Serving great food and satisfactory customer service are two of the goals in putting up a restaurant business. You have to pour efforts that will provide your guests with an excellent dining experience. This will help you in achieving your target revenue. How will you give your guests an inspiration to keep coming back to your restaurant? Create an ambiance that will provide comfort and boost of appetite throughout their stay.
To guide you throughout the design process, here are 5 things to remember when designing a restaurant.
The Ingress and Egress
The ingress is the entry point of a restaurant. Allow the exterior design to highlight the entrance to the establishment. Give them an uncertain idea of why they should dine in your restaurant. This will entice the customers to see for themselves the excellent dining experience your restaurant offers.
The egress is the exit point of a restaurant. Allow the interior design connected to the exit to be memorable. Give them the feeling that the doors will remain open until their next visit. It’s all about how they feel about exiting the area. Did they leave with a smile on their faces? Know whether or not they enjoyed the food and place by observing your guests’ reactions as they exit.
There should be two means of egress in the area, one in front and one adjacent to the working zones. This is for easy transfer of perishable and non-perishable goods. This is also where the employees would exit for waste disposal.
The ingress and egress is a crucial part of designing a restaurant. It highlights the character of the establishment you want the guests to see. Create an entry and exit point that will warmly welcome your guests.
The Establishment of Human Comfort
In designing an interior space, establish a comfortable atmosphere for both the guests and the employees. You have to consider the anthropometrics when measuring spaces. The experience of discomfort among guests has a big impact on the image of your restaurant. You have to ensure that the requirements of ergonomics and anthropometrics are met.
It starts with the comfort your guests will feel as they enter. Is the place too crowded? Did they experience traffic when they walked to their table? You have to put yourself in the guest’s shoes to identify what will make them feel comfortable.
We understand that you want to cater to a certain number of people. You have to consider the area allotted for sitting. This is often a factor compromised when it comes to restaurant design. Bear in mind that traffic will build-up with all of the movements of guests and employees. This will affect their dining experience and job performance.
The Lighting Design
Common among restaurants are warm lights. They have the ability to make the dishes served more appetizing. Warm lights create an effect which makes the place more relaxing and cozy bringing comfort to guests.
The common denominator among restaurants is how they value lighting. They have their own ways of spicing up the interior and exterior details of your business.
The image above is an example of a warm and cozy interior design of a restaurant. They did not put extravagant chandeliers but the utilization of the best flexible LED strip lights. The ceiling design is simple but the color and placement of the light highlighted the objects placed on the shelves. The atmosphere felt like you’re walking through your dining room at home. You can feel the welcoming effect of the lights convincing you to take a seat and dig into your meal.
The Optimum Maximization of Spaces
Space planning in every design project is where the success of your restaurant depends on. Why? Poorly planned spaces often compromise the safety of the guests and employees. You have to consider the movement of the people and the busiest places in a restaurant.
Is your restaurant accessible for persons with disabilities and the elderly? Are the working zones efficient for the employees? Every time you design a space, consider the advantages and disadvantages to its users.
Waiting Area
The waiting area is a space designated for guests who are waiting in line. A waiting area is common among restaurants catering to walk-in and reserved guests. This is one of the most common high-traffic areas inside a restaurant. It is essential considering the people of all ages who will be waiting in the line. Some pregnant, old or disabled person needs an area of comfort while waiting.
Dining Area
The dining area is required to have a minimum of 60% of the total area of the restaurant. It is the focal point of the guests’ dining experience. Proper placement of tables and chairs is highly recommended to avoid traffic and accidents.
Comfort Rooms
The location of the comfort room inside a restaurant shouldn’t be hard to see to provide ease for the guests. Provide a separate comfort room to prioritize children, pregnant women, elderly and persons with disabilities. It is required to be spacious and free from traffic for people who are in wheelchairs.
Working Zones
The working zones are composed of the preparation area, finishing area, and washing area. You should not just focus on the convenience of the guests but as well as the employees. Traffic in between their working zones makes it prone to breakage and accidents. Secure that the employees are able to work flexibly in the preparation and finishing area.
Storage
The storage is divided into three; the cold storage, pantry, and dining ware shelves. The cold storage should be nearest to the employee exit for a convenient transfer of goods during delivery. The dining ware shelves should be next to the finishing area for plating of the dish.
Waste Disposal Area
The waste disposal area should be as far from the dining area as possible. The smell will surely alleviate the appetite of the guests. This is usually placed outside the establishment and near the service door. You have to ensure that the smell doesn’t reach the dining area to avoid jeopardizing the appetite of the guests.
The Practice of Sustainable Design
The practice of sustainable design is an economic way of spicing up the restaurant. Maximize the utilization of natural light and ventilation through the use of windows and vegetation. Large windows are normally seen in restaurants to brighten the spaces inside. Instead of using lights during their working hours, allow the sun to brighten the area for half the day. Indoor plants are also suggested to provide a light and cool area for the guests.
Conclusion
The design is a crucial part of putting up a restaurant business. Apart from the great food that you’re planning to serve, a light but cozy atmosphere is expected to house the guests. With the information above, you will surely come up with the design that will give your customers the best dining experience!