Restaurants require a certain organization in order to function. Due to local laws and bar science, restaurants need to be organized; they need to allow for all sorts of regulations and customer flow. They also need to allow for maintenance as well as storage. Because of this restaurant design and construction can be the subject of a lot of conversations and makeover shows; there are a number of variations for any locations. While there are a number of concerns that produce a large number of variables, there are some constants that make it an interesting field and one whose merits will always be worth discussing.
Bending a Knee to Local Laws
There are plenty of local, state, and federal laws to deal with when it comes to food preparation. Obeying those laws can make for some interesting problem-solving questions but most are simple enough to deal with. The worst of them is storage as the restaurant needs to allow for the day when inventory comes in and the storing of spare utensils, decorations, and even cleaning supplies. Space needs to be allowed that keeps the cold food cold, the supplies away from the food, and all of that out of the walkways. This alone makes construction interesting as it needs to be allowed for in the plans.
An Introduction to Bar Science
The restaurant needs to allow for maximized customer flow as well as encouraging turnover rates. This means that tables need to be spaced a certain distance apart, that the preparation space allows for food preparation, and that there is a compromise between the two. Part of the design of the restaurant needs to allow for this, especially when the space allotted for the restaurant may appear to be too small. Part of the problem for designers is that while other businesses adapt to their space, a restaurant has to have everything allowed for in the building plans, be it the freezers, the ovens, or even the bar; they just need to be hooked into the building and all of those connections need to be allowed for even before anything is moved in.
All of this means that restaurant design and construct can make for some interesting conversations, as even the type of restaurant can affect the plans. By making sure that those designing it and those working in it are on the same page, this means that everyone needs to be on the same page to make the best possible restaurant.