| When it comes to starting a restaurant, design, layout | | | | central location for dropping off and retrieving orders |
| and theme can be crucial to its success. You want a | | | | will keep traffic moving smoothly. Make sure that the |
| comfortable, welcoming atmosphere but you also | | | | public restrooms are easy to find and discreet as it |
| have to think practically. Just because you are in love | | | | can save everyone's time if customers don't have to |
| with a certain type of window treatment that doesn't | | | | ask for directions. |
| mean that it's durable enough to be used in a busy | | | | Furniture and fixtures should be not only aesthetically |
| eating establishment. | | | | pleasing but also durable and strong. You should also |
| Your basic concept is what you will build upon. Do you | | | | consider how easily your staff can move the furniture |
| want an atmosphere more akin to a family dining room | | | | to clean around and underneath it. There are a variety |
| or do you want a more upscale ambiance? The age | | | | of beautiful materials and textures for tables, chairs |
| of your target audience is also an important | | | | and benches that are durable and look great for many |
| consideration. While a family restaurant will have to be | | | | years. |
| durable and sturdy, a hangout for a young adult crowd | | | | The comfort of your diners is a consideration, too. |
| has different demands as does a buffet-style layout. | | | | There are very few successful restaurants with hard |
| Be sure that your concept and design has longevity. If | | | | wooden chairs and those that do have them are |
| you buy into the design of a current fad you will find | | | | usually the kinds of fast service restaurants that want |
| yourself redesigning your restaurant, sometimes within | | | | customers to finish their meal and move on in a hurry. |
| months. You may want to project the atmosphere of | | | | Consistency is imperative for a successful restaurant. |
| an exotic culture like the Tiki bars of the 40's and 50's | | | | From the design of the plates and flatware to the |
| or faithfully reproduce a Far Eastern Tea House. | | | | presentation of the food, your clientele wants to know |
| Whichever kind of design you choose, be sure that it is | | | | what to expect each and every time they visit. The |
| classic and enduring unless, of course, you enjoy | | | | manner of your waiting staff is also crucial. Customers |
| frequent redecorating and interrupted traffic. | | | | should be confident that they will always get a server |
| Lighting is one of the most important aspects of design | | | | that is polite, friendly and efficient. |
| and can make or break a restaurant. Too harsh and | | | | If your restaurant has market appeal and becomes |
| customers wont return, too dim and you may have the | | | | the first choice of those who have the opportunity to |
| same reaction. If you want to create a warm and | | | | go out for dinner, it will be hard not to succeed. A |
| romantic atmosphere, intimacy is more important than | | | | restaurant that looks appealing on the outside, is |
| dimness. While customers may not realize it, lighting is | | | | comfortable and welcoming on the inside and that has |
| one important factor in creating an overall dining | | | | a waiting staff that enjoys the job will always have a |
| experience that is positive and leaves customers | | | | steady clientele. |
| wanting to return. | | | | Start your restaurant business off right by giving it a |
| Traffic patterns are important too. Make it easy for | | | | practical layout and a design and theme that is |
| your waiting staff to cruise their tables without colliding | | | | marketable and keeps customers coming back for |
| and provide paths wide enough to accommodate | | | | more. |
| serving trays without intruding on other tables. A | | | | |