Two new restaurants are coming to the same block in Fullerton. High Horse Saloon and Mickey’s Irish Pub are slated to open June 1.

They’re both brought to the neighborhood by Mario Marovic and Andrew Gabriel, the masterminds behind Playa Mesa, Wild Goose Tavern, The Country Club and other projects.

“Fullerton has been changing over the last 20 years,” said Marovic, who owns Matador Cantina + Cocina, which is also in the area. “In the early ’90s, it was a real mellow downtown area, now they’ve built thousands and thousands of new apartments and it’s kind of a bustling, growing downtown. We like it because there’s a good demographic and population here. And there’s a really good sense of community.”

Mickey’s will be 3,000 square feet with seating for 150 and High Horse will be 5,000 square feet with 250 seats. Marovic and Gabriel are working with Architects Orange and Platinum X Construction of Irvine to renovate the spaces which were formerly 100 North Kitchen + Lounge and Florentine’s Grill.

The pub has a traditional Irish theme with dark wood paneling, hardwood floors, green accents, a copper top bar, large roll up windows and a mix of seating, including communal tables. High Horse is inspired by old-time Western saloons. Materials include vintage brick, reclaimed barn wood throughout and concrete floors. There will be wagon wheel chandeliers, a copper top bar and large roll up windows.

Both concepts have full bars; the pub will offer a wide variety of Irish whiskeys and beer. The saloon will specialize in American whiskeys and craft beer.

Executive chef David Dennis will supervise menus for the two restaurants for lunch and dinner on weekdays, brunch and dinner on weekends. The pub will serve traditional Irish and Irish-inspired fare.

“It’ll be like Malarky’s and Muldoon’s got married and had a baby,” quips Marovic, who owns both of those Newport Beach pubs, which serve dishes such as shepherd’s pie and fish and chips.

The saloon will focus on steak, seafood, burgers and sandwiches.

“We want people to come in here for Friday happy hour and bring their kids,” Marovic said. “We’ll have a duo on stage playing some acoustic country music and I think the kids and their parents are going to love it.”

Find it: Mickey’s Irish Pub is at 100 N. Harbor Blvd., Fullerton, the High Horse Saloon will be located at 102 N. Harbor Blvd, Fullerton.

Open: Both restaurants are slated to open June 1.

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