Meet the Culinary Disruptors Turning Orange County Upside Down: Darkroom

What happens when two renegade chefs decide Orange County deserves more than safe bets and forgettable fare? You get Darkroom – a moody, vinyl-spinning, chef-driven restaurant shaking up the OC scene, along with its elegant alter ego, Chrysalis, tucked inside like a well-kept secret.

In this week’s radio show, I sat down with co-owners Zach Sherer and Drew Adams – Co-Creators of the enormously enticing Darkroom – to talk passion-fueled plates, numbered cocktails, record store obsessions and why they're already proving that the culinary elite can thrive beyond L.A. in our southerly climes. 

Show Notes:

• Darkroom's Dual Identity and Why They Chose O.C.: A vibey, vinyl-fueled restaurant meets its serene, eight-course-tasting-menu counterpart, Chrysalis – two experiences under one roof, run by two master chefs.
• Chef Chemistry: Zach and Drew met eight years ago and built their working dynamic on respect, no ego, and an unrelenting drive to make something better than what most of The O.C. had to offer.
• Designed Like a Mixtape: From hand-built interiors to nightly vinyl curation, Darkroom is more than a restaurant – it’s a vibe. Think Lower East Side New York or a Tokyo listening bar.
• Cocktails, Numbered Not Named: With no hard liquor license, the award-winning mixology team led by Gianna creates house-made amari, sherry-based spritzes, and culinary-forward cocktails that evolve with the seasons – up to #46 and counting.
• Princess Meets Punk Rock: These two “high flavor” cooking alums aren't afraid to mix high-concept techniques with fried chicken + caviar dinners. Listen as they discuss pulling flavors from local ingredients into unexpected formats.
• Chrysalis: Jazz in Food Form: With only 16 seats and ticketed seatings Thursday–Saturday, Chrysalis is their chef's table dream – hear details on this prix fixe experience.