Restaurant design does not begin and end with the just the kitchen or the bar. It starts at the door and carries throughout the entire establishment from the kitchen to the dining room to the restrooms. Owners want to welcome guests into a comfortable and inviting establishment where the servers aren’t bumping into each other, dropping trays, or having a hard time making it out of the kitchen.
Building A Smart Restaurant: Dining Design
Creating a design that is honest and authentic means matching the menu with the decor, the decor with the locale, and keeping it unique to the restaurant’s function.
Popular reality TV series like “Restaurant: Impossible” and “Bar Rescue” often touch on this important theme in restaurant design. The many theme restaurants and bars, and those lacking any theme at all, that they walk into are often prime examples of how not to design a restaurant. Loud carpets, uncomfortable seating, poorly placed tables, walls in places where they shouldn’t be, dark lighting, and themes in improper locations all work to drive customers away.
DESIGN ELEMENTS FOR A GREAT LAYOUT
We look at the overall picture and not just how each individual area operates alone. Start with a simple design while keeping it unique. Owners want to stand out from the crowd, but keeping it simple and clutter free creates an inviting atmosphere for guests.
Look to the world, nature, and how things work to create an innovative dining room design that functions within the space. Furniture is the highlight of your restaurant. Pick pieces that complement the atmosphere in juxtaposition to other contrasting pieces. This will enhance the quality of the customers experience. When considering furniture, shape, quality and style all matter.
Take time when laying out your dining room and make sure you know what you want — an open dining space with movable furniture, anchored tables that stay in place, or perhaps smaller rooms with their own unique setups.
WHAT TO CONSIDER IN DINING DESIGN
Space and capacity are major considerations in restaurant construction. While owners want to maximize their space to make the most of the establishment, jamming too many tables into a small space creates an uncomfortable seating arrangement for guests. Local code and regulations help determine dining rooms size allotment, outdoor seating requirements and whether there can be more than one dining room.
A dining room layout can make or break your restaurant’s flow and impede or expedite your waiters and waitresses service. Efficient layout designs make it convenient for customers and easier to navigate for restaurant staff.
Working with your average construction company may not get you the efficient design you were hoping for. That’s why we think you should consider econstruct, Inc., for your restaurant renovation or build. We have 30 years of experience specializing in this industry — we know our way around a dining room and we know what works and what doesn’t. Contact us today to find out how we can help you design the perfect restaurant, and keep an eye out for the next blog in this series, which will tackle the restaurant bar.