TV Crew Descends on Murrieta Restaurant

The fanfare one might think would accompany a TV crew was instead low key this week when a production crew for the Home & Garden Television show “House Hunters” stopped by The Mill Restaurant in Historic Downtown Murrieta.

The premise of the popular HGTV reality show is to follow home buyers as their real estate agent shows them three houses in their preferred city of residence. Oftentimes, a segment of the show is filmed at a local eating establishment while the home buyers dine and discuss which home to pursue.

Adam Bouvet, part-owner of the Washington Avenue eatery, received a phone call from someone at the show Thursday afternoon. He said they asked if they could shoot that segment at the restaurant.

A party of seven people—a real estate agent, home buyers and HGTV production crew—sat at a table and enjoyed lunch Thursday.

The excitement carried over into Friday when they returned to The Mill to continue filming.

It was a memorable and proud moment for Bouvet and staff as business as usual continued.

Bouvet, who also works as a real estate agent, said “House Hunters” is a show he watches often.

“It’s a toss up between that and the cooking shows,” said Bouvet, who was one of the restaurant’s first employees when it opened 17 years ago and became a part owner nearly five years ago.

Bouvet said he was not sure how “House Hunters” chose The Mill for its taping.

“We have kind of become a staple to the city, so that's probably one of the main reasons (they chose us),” Bouvet said.

The restaurant serves lunch and dinner seven days a week, as well as breakfast Friday-Sunday. On Saturday nights, The Mill hosts live music on its patio.

Some of the popular menu items include pasta, pizza, salads and sandwiches. Bouvet said The Mill puts its own “gourmet twist” on many items, and makes its own pizza sauces and salad dressings.

Customers include the business community, members of the police and fire departments, school district employees, families, and friends just meeting for lunch, Bouvet said.

“Our lunches are really busy,” said Bouvet, who manages the restaurant and does everything from hosting to washing dishes.

Just prior to the “House Hunters” crew arriving Thursday, he said there had been a 30-minute wait for a table.

It was unclear when taping of the episode was expected to wrap up, or when it would air.

A producer on scene at The Mill told Patch she was not permitted to speak with media, and a call to HGTV’s public relations department had not be returned as of publication time.

Patch will keep you posted if more information is received.