The Stage from “Big Little Lies’

So far I am unimpressed with the locations featured in Big Little Lies’ second season.  During the HBO series’ first go-round, not only were the locales fantastic, but they were showcased to such an incredible extent that they pretty much overshadowed everything else – but in the best way possible!  Despite the drama and tension constantly hovering around Madeline Martha Mackenzie (Reese Witherspoon) and the gang, the atmosphere completely drew me in.  From the houses to the restaurants to the scenic overlooks, the ladies’ beautiful but haunting world was definitely a place I wanted more of.  This season, not so much.  In fact, in the three episodes that have aired so far, there hasn’t been a single location standout – in my eyes at least.  Even the spots that are striking in real life aren’t being showcased well.  Case in point – Burbank’s The Stage California Fusion Restaurant & Café, which masked as the supposed Monterey-area Neptune’s Bistro, where Jane Chapman (Shailene Woodley) went on a rather odd date with her co-worker, Corey Brockfield (Douglas Smith), in the latest episode titled “The End of the World.”  I learned about the arcadian eatery thanks to a reader named Lew who posted a comment alerting me that the series was filming on the premises on my Round-Up of Big Little Lies Filming Locations post back in March 2018.  I finally stalked the place this past May and can honestly say it is, hands down, one of the coolest, prettiest and most unique venues in L.A.!  I anxiously awaited its BLL cameo and was disappointed – and rather surprised – when it finally popped up in very limited form this past Sunday.  Hardly any of it could be seen!  So I figured it was my duty to properly showcase it for my readers here.

The Stage California Fusion Restaurant & Café opened its doors in June 2013 on the site of what was formerly a garden shop known as Lucky Plants.  Considering the eatery’s pastoral quality, you might think much of the design and foliage are holdovers from the space’s time as a nursery, but as you can see in the August 2011 Street View image as compared to my photograph below, that is, oddly, not the case.  Lucky Plants can hardly be described as bucolic.  As commenter Vahan Bznuni said of the property’s redevelopment, “They turned an abandoned former nursery with no hint of green into a lush garden paradise.”

The difference is incredible!

Garden paradise it truly is!

The Stage is all bright bougainvillea vines, lush hedges, towering trees and hanging blossoms coupled with reclaimed wood, strung twinkle lights and colorful décor.

Each vista proves more stunning than the last and includes an expansive main courtyard;

a raised patio known as “The Veranda”;

an indoor dining room dubbed “The House” . . .

. . . complete with a stage . . .

canopied pathways;

and a covered patio.

Even the restaurant’s signage is whimsical!

And the parking lot picturesque!

The place is so gorgeous that I took over 110 photographs while there!

Literally everything at The Stage is picture-worthy.

The Grim Cheaper and I dined in a tucked-away little enclave, of which the restaurant has several.  It was a bit chilly during our lunch, so our server offered us blankets to keep warm, which perfectly epitomized the place to me.  The Stage is warm, cozy and inviting.

Oh, and the food’s not bad either!

We opted for the Shrimp Gruyere appetizer consisting of massive-size prawns wrapped in smoked bacon and covered in Gruyere cheese with a tarragon dipping sauce.  And yes, it tasted just as good as it looked.

Big Little Lies’ “The End of the World” episode made use of The Stage’s courtyard area for Jane and Corey’s very brief date scene during which Corey obsessively touts his obscure knowledge of wild versus farmed seafood.

Though the space did appear beautiful onscreen . . .

. . . it was nothing compared to its actual beauty.

I mean!

I am hoping the eatery is featured again in some of Season 2’s upcoming episodes, otherwise what a waste of a location!

For more stalking fun, follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Los Angeles magazine and Discover Los Angeles.

Big THANK YOU to fellow stalker Lew for telling me about this location! 

Until next time, Happy Stalking!

Stalk It: The Stage California Fusion Restaurant & Café, aka Corey and Jane’s date spot from “The End of the World” episode of Big Little Lies, is located at 546 South San Fernando Boulevard in Burbank.  You can visit the eatery’s official website here.  The Stage is open Tuesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

‘