5 Tips for Designing a New Restaurant

The restaurant business is an exciting and fun area to be a part of. You get to create entertainment for your guests while serving delicious food. The best restaurants treat their customers like family and welcome them in with open arms. You want people excited about coming back for more! To succeed at this goal, you need a flawless design for your new restaurant.

Opening a new restaurant comes with a lot of pressure and nuances that you have to get right. The design is a big part of this. You aren’t just starting a business, you’re creating an atmosphere and an experience for your guests. Not only that, but you have to guarantee everything runs smoothly for your staff in the back of house and your customers in the dining room. There are a lot of areas to consider as you’re laying out your design for your new restaurant. Here are just a few tips to keep in mind as you strive for success.

Set up an efficient, practical layout.

Many people think a restaurant is just about the dining area, but really, there are so many areas to consider. Setting up an efficient, practical layout should be your first step. The dining room is the main event, but you’ll also need to set up your bar area, outdoor seating, a lobby, an office for the management staff, restrooms, a beverage station, and, of course, the kitchen. Work closely with an architect or contractor and the fire marshal to make sure everything is up to code and efficiently designed. If you’re taking over a preexisting space, can you make any improvements? It’s all about creating a versatile space that will work well for your staff and your guests.

Get your equipment for the front and back of house.

Once you have the layout set, it’s time to fill the space with stuff. Opening a restaurant requires plenty of equipment and most of that can be found in the kitchen. Your appliances will help you create great food for your guests, so these restaurant supplies need to be top-notch for a killer price. Go Food Service can provide commercial restaurant appliances like refrigerators, coolers, food prep stations, ovens, grills, stoves, warming equipment, dishwashers, and any other cooking equipment you could possibly need. Getting the right restaurant equipment at the lowest price is a great way to create a successful restaurant while staying on budget. The foodservice industry involves so many pieces, so make sure you’re getting the right model for your commercial kitchen and keeping the front of house looking good.

Create your ambiance.

The best restaurants have fun, creative themes. Think of places like Rainforest Cafe or Planet Hollywood that have made a big name by being an interactive experience as well as a foodservice location. Your next step is to create your ambiance. What do you want to be known for? What kind of impression do you want to leave on your guests. This can be as simple as putting masterpieces and creative art on your walls. Even beginner artists can create beautiful accessories to make your space brighter with the help of PAINTLoose. Get the basics of your ambiance covered with a great starter set or the perfect gift to create an environment people will love.

Design the menu.

Of course, the main event of any restaurant is the food. So you also have to design the menu! Work with your head chef to create a theme or type of cuisine you want to specialize in. Whether it’s American classics, Mediterranean flair, or the best pizza on the block, create a menu that will draw people in and leave them begging for more.

Remember the small details.

At the end of the day, your new restaurant is a business. You need to remember all the small details of your design. Make sure the restrooms have working plumbing, plan for the electric and heating bills, and get efficient light fixtures, etc. Staying on top of the small details will be the final step to your amazing restaurant design.