It's not easy to design a floor plan for a restaurant, whether you are opening one or renovating one. While the ultimate goal is to create a dining experience that attracts customers, you should also stick to tried-and-true interior design strategies.

Two restaurant design experts were consulted about the best practices and questions to ask when starting a restaurant design project.

1. How To Divide Up The Space

Your restaurant will have the most space if you have a kitchen and dining area. Although layouts are subject to change, the following guidelines will help you manage space.

A typical ratio of space for dining areas and kitchens might be 60:40. So 60% goes to the dining area and 40% to the kitchen.

For example, if it's a more casual style where diners order from a counter using a simple menu, then you may only need 20% of the space for the kitchen and 80% for other areas. This is according to Kip Serfozo (design director, East) of Cini-Little. The firm is a food service planning and design company based in Germantown.

2. What Kitchen Layout Is Best?

The layout of the kitchen space is essential to a successful restaurant business. Therefore, it should be carefully planned to start in the early stages of the design process. Ahn advises that this requires close collaboration between the owner, the chef, the designer, and a kitchen consultant.

While different styles may be better for different types and services, there is no denying that a rectangular-shaped kitchen will work well. This shape works well to minimize steps and make a workstation efficient since most work types of equipment is rectangular.

For placement, the galley layout, which has a counter, aisle, and counter on one side, so everyone works in the same direction.

3. How The Restaurant Will Be Used

It doesn't matter if your primary vision is to serve couples or small groups of people; it is important to consider the potential uses for your restaurant. Early planning allows for flexibility and helps to prevent hiccups later on. This includes private parties, events, DJ booths, stages, and stage space that can even be used for small concerts.

Knowing the type of use is important as it allows us to design from the beginning with flexible options like movable furniture, which allows to make quick changes to the layout and not require modifications to major architectural or decor elements. Flexibility is crucial, you want it so you can have private parties, but you also want it to look cohesive when it's not.

4. How The Dining Room Set-Up Will Look

The first step is to identify major zoning areas, such as a bar, casual dining area, and private dining area. Once these areas have been identified, it is important to determine the placement and scale of all furniture in the restaurant space.

Instead of a single large table to serve 12 people, you can use three smaller tables to make a more efficient dining area.

Many restaurants have separate areas or mini-rooms in their dining spaces. In addition, there are many options for portable partitions that look great and allow you to divide the dining area.

Another tip is to use planters or greenery elements to create a unique and aesthetic environment.

5. How to Optimize Your Seating Options

Furniture shouldn't be an afterthought. On the contrary, it's essential to think about from the beginning of your restaurant's conception.

Thinking about seating types and table types at the beginning, along with decisions about the overall program, is the only way for seating capacity to be integrated into an impactful, cohesive design vision of the restaurant.

Guests now want a wide range of seating options. This is especially important if you cater to different generations. For example, younger diners might prefer small bites at the bar or standing around a table to enjoy a drink, while older people will be more comfortable in larger seats.

The other trend is smaller table sizes. This means that you can maximize space if your serveware is smaller. Serfozo suggests other creative ways to make the most of your real estate. Bar seating is another way to maximize space. Stools should have backs and footrests. For single diners, you might consider placing a row of seats along a window wall.

6. There Are Ways To Ensure Accessibility And Comfort In Additional Areas

It is important to plan for foot traffic into and out of your restaurant, in addition to the kitchen and dining areas. For example, if the restaurant is a big entertainment venue, you will need to allocate more space for people waiting and coat checking. While the size of the waiting area is not as important as informal dining settings, it is crucial to have good circulation at the entrance.

A trend towards having larger bars has also been observed. Today's diners and patrons not only drink after hours at the bar, but many guests drink small portions of food in bar settings throughout the day.

Queensland, a new restaurant within The Shops and Restaurants of Hudson Yards in New York City, is an example. Ahn's team collaborated with D&D London and made the bar larger and more spacious so that it could serve as a dining area. A market-responsive approach is crucial to successful restaurant design.

You should also consider the increasing demand for takeout options due to third-party delivery services such as DoorDash or UberEats.

Pre-ordering and picking up is a big mistake. It is important to have a designated space that does not clog up the waiting room for customers who will be coming in and eating there.

Consider where customers might wait to get a table during busy nights. If it's not too hot, you might place some benches outside or a seat near the front. You will need to have a place for strollers and high chairs if you are targeting young families.

Your designer must also be familiar with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), as it will help ensure that your restaurant is accessible for all people and that your restrooms comply with code.

These restaurant floor plans will help you create safe, efficient kitchen operations and a pleasant dining experience for your customers. You can then get creative with interior design elements, such as unique furniture and cool colors.