In today’s hectic world, people are finding that the demands of work and life keep them busy away from home. The frantic pace has led people to view food as a rare opportunity to relax and socialize. As more people look for food and entertainment at lunchtime, dining out is taking on an increasingly glamorous form of celebration. The restaurant food trend has prompted restaurateurs to turn to restaurant design professionals who specialize in creating environments that enhance the dining experience.
Offering top quality food is no longer enough to guarantee the success of a restaurant.
Smart restaurant owners understand that developing an attractive and innovative restaurant design plan plays an important role in attracting and retaining customers. While great food and excellent customer service are critical factors in encouraging repeat customers, restaurant interior design is just as important. The dining room set should allow customers to enjoy their food in comfort.
Restaurant design lays the foundation for customer interaction. Loud music and Formica tables with styrofoam cups create a different atmosphere than sleek jazz and fine china linen tablecloths. Owners can develop a successful design plan by carefully studying all aspects of the restaurant environment.
The restaurant design plan should balance a welcoming atmosphere and a large capacity. Some types of restaurants, such as informal restaurants, focus on capacity. Restaurants that offer gourmet cuisine pay more attention to the atmosphere.
Hosts should always consider customer preferences when planning a dining room design. Most guests dislike sitting next to the kitchen, bathrooms, or front door. Tables in the middle of the dining room are also less popular with guests. Many of these problem areas can be modified or masked through the strategic placement of furniture that acts as dividers.
Before you finish your dining room design, take the time to sit on each chair and evaluate the view from a potential client’s point of view.
Music is an important aspect of design as it helps set the tone for a restaurant. Hiring a talented musician or band can draw in a crowd more effectively than any special dinner. Many modern restaurants have live performances on certain evenings, often weekends.
Heating and cooling are essential for all restaurants. Because restaurant kitchens generate significant heat and smoke, proper ventilation is critical to maintaining a comfortable environment. Proper refrigeration is also vital, as dining without air conditioning will turn off customers during the hot summer. While costly, maintaining good ventilation and temperature control is essential to attracting and retaining customers. Savings in this area will only lead to lost sales.
Summary
Designing a restaurant that considers all these factors takes time and significant financial investments. However, hiring an experienced professional designer can result in a high return on investment and many years of success.