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Make out of Small Dining Room

How to Make the Most of a Small Restaurant Dining Room?

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic continues to disrupt the way we carry about our daily activities. We have seen a radical shift in the operation of restaurant businesses all over the world. With the social distancing norms kicking in, managing space in a restaurant’s dining area can be intimidating. The latest guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) direct you to maintain at least 6 feet distance between the guests in your restaurant.

Whether you are opening a new restaurant or remodeling your existing one, finalizing your restaurant’s layout requires you to consider several aspects before making up your mind. Read on to know how you can make the most of the dining space available in your restaurant.

1. Maximize the Space Without Sacrificing Comfort:

As a restaurant owner, you want to create a comfortable dining area for your guests where they can sit and enjoy their meal. To meet the social distancing norms, you must place two seating tables at least 72 inches apart in every direction. You can utilize this buffer area between the dining chairs and tables for storage, decorative elements, wait-stations, etc. To maximize the space in your restaurant’s dining area, you can consider small tables that can accommodate up to four guests. You can try shifting and placing tables that suits the floor plan of your dining room.

2. Select the Right and Stylish Seating:

modern restaurant seating in small dining room

Rather than treating them as a separate element, think of the restaurant furniture as an extension of ambiance. Your restaurant tables and chairs must be visually appealing, durable, functional, light-weight, affordable, and easy to use and maintain. Restaurant booths are cozy, space-saving, and convenient options to utilize the limited space for the corner areas of the dining room touching walls. As an additional safety feature, you can consider installing partitions or sneeze guards in your restaurant. In the middle of the dining room, light-weight and floating tables are an excellent option to add flexibility. You can use them separately or combine them for parties and large gatherings.

3. Plan Reservations Per the Capacity:

accept reservations

Staggering and allotting restaurant reservations with prior planning can help you in utilizing the dining area more effectively and efficiently. One way to achieve this is by offering restaurant tables at designated times.  This practice allows you to make the most of your dining space and available resources. More importantly, it enables you to schedule the cleaning chores to keep your restaurant spotless and hygienic. Investing in a state-of-the-art reservation system is a smart way to keep track of all your bookings and schedules with minimum staff involvement.

4. There Should Be a Clear Path In & Out of the Dining Room:

To avoid crowding and confusion, hallways in your restaurant must bear appropriate signs to direct your guests. Generally, the hallway must have sufficient space to accommodate the comfortable movement of two people.  Since your guests will pull the restaurant chairs while sitting and getting up, you must leave ample space to allow unrestricted movement in such cases. Under the present COVID-19 times, you can plan separate entry and exit paths to minimize interaction between your guests. While you can keep the front door of your restaurant for entry to the dining room, your guests can use the side or back door for leaving the restaurant. Additionally, this practice reduces crowding at the front door or entrance of your restaurant.

5. Create a Safe yet Inviting Entry:

The entrance to your restaurant gives an overview of your restaurant and usually gives the first impression to your customers. Even if you don’t have the luxury of space in your restaurant, you can use the following tactics to utilize the dining area more efficiently without compromising safety and hygiene:

A. Eliminate the Old-Fashioned Waiting Area:

Traditionally, the waiting area in a restaurant used to be a happening place for catching up and meeting with your pals. However, to comply with the safe distancing guidelines and to avoid crowding, you can eliminate the waiting area al-together and utilize the space to accommodate more guests in the dining room. Moreover, by reducing expenditure on furniture for the waiting area, you can invest in touchless technologies, contactless payments, and app-based reservation systems, etc.

B. Minimize the Traffic:

Restructure the movement of patrons in your restaurant by providing separate entry and exit points. As the demand for take-out order increases, you can set-up a pick-up counter to avoid crowding near the front gate and reservation desk.

C. Create a Sanitizer Station Near the Door:

Create sanitizer stations at all accessible areas like entrance, pick-up counters, reception desk, cash registers, etc. Ensure that your staff and guests sanitize their hands.

D. Install Clear Partition:

partition between table

To isolate and limit the contact between your staff and guests, install partitions on the top surfaces of reception/reservation desk, pick-up counter, cashier, etc. Ensure that these partitions are at least 20 inches high and have small opening for receiving cash and handling parcels.

E. Decorate for Atmosphere:

Wall paintings, furniture, light-fittings, table-layout, colors, etc. are crucial aspects of restaurant design. Whether you wish to create a carefree cafe or an intimate fine-dine ambiance, you can use these elements for the perfect atmosphere. While dark colors like red, brown, etc. create cozy set-up, light colors like green, orange, yellow, etc. create open space.

Similarly, you can use mirrors to give the impression of a longer and wider dining area.

Conclusion:

Getting the best from a small dining room in a restaurant requires careful planning and detailing. From the design of restaurant tables to their placements, from lighting arrangements to decorative items, from reservations to movements of your guests, all these elements can help you in the efficient utilization of the dining area. In the post-COVID-19 scenario, working in a small dining area might appear even more challenging, but the points discussed in the article will be a good starting point. Hopefully, you can use these tips to overcome this daunting task and make the most of small restaurant dining room.

restaurant design

Incorporate Restaurant Tables in Great Restaurant Design

In this age of social media where everybody is an amateur photographer, customers have turned out to be more conscientious of the quality of the menu, as well as the details of the design of your space. When consumers choose a restaurant, they’re not only judging the quality of the food and service, but the aesthetics of the eatery as well. This is why it is very important to incorporate great restaurant design and brand from the start.

Restaurant Tables

Appropriate Decor:

Decor that doesn’t tell your brand’s story can actually detract from profits. Good planning is the corner stone of any restaurant design, so start by writing down the vision for your restaurant. Consider the lighting, fixtures, decorations and types of tables and chairs you want to add into your commercial dining space. Every item you select should effectively communicate your brand.  Branding can include your logo, company name, consistent style of furniture and especially your color theme.

Appropriate Restaurant Furniture:

granite restaurant tables

Just as the appropriate decorations sell your brand, so can the right restaurant furniture.  Restaurant tables and seating come in a huge variety of styles, colors and shapes to easily match the look and color of your company’s logo and branding. If you have two or three colors incorporated in your branding materials, it is recommended to choose those same colors. There are even restaurant tables that can be designed to incorporate your company’s name and logo.

Good Floor Plans:

Poorly laid out floor plans, bar setups, wait stations and table configurations obstruct customers and servers. Even a perfect restaurant can fall short if the layout of chairs and tables are inappropriate. To make sure each table is well-placed, managers or staff can sit at each location in the dining setup to see which have excessive traffic, noise, or other shortfalls. If you don’t feel you are able to properly construct a layout, there are templates online, or investing in a designer or architect may be your best route to success.

Exposed Service Areas:

Restaurant Chairs styles

Overflowing trashcans or visible bus pans can hinder a guest’s restaurant experience. The primary function of a restaurant is offering good food to its guests. People want to dine in an attractive and clean space.  Customers are paying good money and chose your restaurant out of many so look at your space from a customer perspective. If customers see overflowing trashcans, clutter, or dirty dishes in a sink, they will be uncomfortable. They may just get up and leave from your restaurant. Ensure the service areas don’t intrude upon diners.

Conclusion

Here at Missouri Table & Chair, we offer a wide range of restaurant furniture that will surely boost your eatery’s brand and enhance the layout and look of your space.  We offer many custom options and can help you with properly matching our furniture with your company brand. Call us now to get great advice on how to make your restaurant look its best.

dining booth seating

3 Benefits of Restaurant Tables and Booths

When planning your new restaurant, consider whether you will want to add restaurant tables with booth seating, as well as chairs or barstools. Restaurant booths offer many benefits, both to the customer and the restaurant owner. For restaurant owners who want to add table and booth seating in their restaurant layout, this blog article covers three of their benefits.

restaurant tables and booths

1. Restaurant Tables and Booths are Affordable

Restaurant booths offer many custom options which help to ensure that the booth seating will be exactly tailored to the type of restaurant it’s placed in.  Are these custom booths expensive?  Booths may seem expensive compared to restaurant chairs, but restaurant owners need to keep in mind that a table and booths can replace a table with multiple chairs. Custom booths start at a very affordable price point making them an attractive restaurant furniture option.

2. Customers Prefers Restaurant Booths and Tables

A lot of customers prefer booths because of the privacy a booth offers. Customers with children may prefer booths because it easier to seat and assist multiple children in a booth seating layout. Couples may prefer booths because of their coziness and the intimacy they create. Some restaurant booths are more thickly padded and come in extravagant upholstery styles making them more a more luxurious seating option. Simply placing some restaurant table and booth seating in your restaurant allows you to give your customer the choice.

3. Restaurant Booths and Tables Can Save Space

Restaurant booths can also save a lot of space. Rows of booths can maximize seating in smaller restaurant settings. Restaurant booths can be custom designed to fit two, four, or any number of diners, even up to large banquette style booths for very large dining parties. Restaurant booths are available in many different configurations. They can be custom made in round or rectangular styles which means they can fit into almost any space. Booths normally take up fewer square feet than table and chair options which seat the same amount of people. Booths come in an infinite selection of colors, fabrics, vinyl and finish options to match any restaurant décor or theme.

restaurant-tables-and-booths

It’s important to know some basic facts about the proper layout and sizing ratios necessary when purchasing restaurant tables and booth seating. Ordering the correct size for the intended type of restaurant application is very important. The “normal” size industry standard for a full booth set up is 72 inches from the center of one booth table to the center of the next booth table. The size needed for your commercial booth application may be more or less than 72 inches. Factors to consider are the type of restaurant and the layout.

Some types of restaurants, such as pizza, Asian or Mexican style restaurants, usually require more than the 30 inch wide table top factored into the normal 72 inch booth setup. Conversely, booths for events at coffee shops or fast-food establishments require smaller than 30″ wide and smaller than 72″ booth setups. Restaurant booths come in custom heights and lengths. They can be customized as per your exact specifications for your hospitality setting.

Conclusion

The seating capacity of a restaurant table is necessary consideration when purchasing a booth.   Generally, the table top will increase in size in connection with the prices on the menu. Many restaurants feature long custom made single side booths that may run along the wall of a restaurant. Still another option is rounded or horseshoe shaped booths. For these restaurant table and booth configurations, it is best to consult reputable commercial furniture vendor for purchasing right furniture.

Outdoor Restaurant Furniture

What is the Important about Outdoor Furniture Material?

When you are looking for outdoor furniture for your restaurant, you want a perfect balance of quality, durability, ability to withstand extreme weather, and affordability. With so many outdoor furniture material available on the market, a new buyer might get intimidated easily.

Best Material for Outdoor Furniture

Before you decide one the material for the outdoor furniture, let’s discuss the relevant features, pros, and cons of frequently encountered materials.

1. Wood:

wood outdoor furniture

Wood has long been a popular choice of raw material for outdoor patio furniture. In particular, teak continues to be the most sought after material due to its natural look and favorable characteristics. Because it has a high natural oil content, teak repels water and can act as an all-weather outdoor furniture material for your restaurant. Its higher strength, availability, ease of maintenance, and long-life make it a durable material for outdoors.

2. Stainless Steel:

High density and strength of stainless steel make it an excellent choice for making heavy-duty commercial outdoor furniture material. It is resistant to rusting and corrosion, and can sustain extreme temperatures. The weight of stainless steel furniture means it is less likely to blow away or tip over under harsh winds. Stainless steel outdoor furniture continues to be a rewarding investment in restaurants.

3. Aluminum:

aluminum outdoor furniture

Because of its light weight, aluminum remains one of the most popular and go-to choices for outdoor restaurant furniture. Aluminum is strong, easily machine able, long lasting, and doesn’t cost a fortune. Although aluminum offers considerable resistance to corrosion, additional powder coating not only adds to the visual appeal and finish, but it also helps resist against scratches.

4. Resin/Plastic:

plastic outdoor furniture

Modern minimalistic designs continue to use synthetic resins and plastics for restaurant furniture. With cutting edge technologies, these materials are available in a variety of shapes, sizes, colors, and finishes. Since coloring forms an inherent process during molding, these inexpensive, lightweight materials are fade resistant. Some pieces are lightweight, so make sure you have a way to secure them in windy weather conditions.

5. Metal:

metal outdoor furniture

 

 

Wrought iron remains one of the oldest materials used for making furniture. Its strength and ductility make it an excellent choice for hand-crafted furniture. However, it can rust which may require extra care and proper maintenance. Additionally, in weather extremes, it may get too uncomfortable to use without upholstery.

Things to Consider Before Choosing Outdoor Furniture Material

Now that you are aware of the different materials to select from, let’s discuss some important that you must consider while choosing the best material for outdoor restaurant furniture:

i) Cleaning and Care:

While buying outdoor furniture is a one-time process, maintaining and cleaning it requires continued and constant effort. If you are short on time or don’t want frequent care, go for lower maintenance materials like teak, aluminum, stainless steel, or plastic.

ii) Eco-friendliness:

In the current times of accelerated climatic changes due to global warming, it’s a wise decision to opt for “green” materials. Thankfully, several leading manufacturers are becoming ecologically responsible and using recycled or biodegradable materials.

iii) Cost-effective:

For most of the buyers, the bottom line often rests on the cost of the furniture and their budget. However, before opting for a particular material, consider the upfront investment as well as the maintenance or repair costs in the longer run.

iv) Weight:

The weight of outdoor tables and chairs is an important consideration because the furniture may need to be moved daily. At many restaurants, closing time involves staff stacking the outdoor chairs under cover or placing them in a secured area to prevent theft. When the restaurant opens next, the furniture must be un-stacked and returned to its proper position. Heavy outdoor restaurant chairs aren’t practical, because it can be difficult for the staff to move them. Fortunately, lightweight outdoor restaurant chairs, available in a variety of designs and styles, make setup and breakdown a breeze.

v) Rain and Moisture:

Rain and moisture are probably the most damage causing agents to the outdoor furniture. If yours is an area with frequent rains or excessive humidity, ensure that your outdoor furniture has sufficient protection against rust, fungi, corrosion, etc. These factors not only degrade the life and durability of the furniture, but they can also pose a health concern for your customers.

vi) Corrosion Resistance:

Corrosion can be a serious problem in outdoor furniture. When untreated wrought iron is exposed to moisture in the air, a reddish powdery substance called iron oxide, or rust, forms. As metal rusts, it becomes weaker and appears corroded. Aluminum offers a corrosion-resistant option for restaurant owners who prefer the sleek, modern look of metal outdoor restaurant chairs. A zinc plating process makes cast iron outdoor patio bases resistant to corrosion, which allows restaurant owners to take advantage of iron’s sturdiness without having to worry about rust.

vii) Fungal Resistance:

Mold and mildew are fungal growths that find a hospitable environment in the tiny surface irregularities of untreated wood. Spores float through the air and settle on the wood, starting a decay process that makes the chair or table appear weathered and unkempt. Teak tabletops provide the warmth and appeal of natural wood, while offering unmatched durability. It can be allowed to weather naturally to a silvery grey or can be oiled twice a year to preserve the rich color.

viii) Ultraviolet Resistance:

The effects of the sun can be damaging to outdoor chairs constructed from natural materials. Wicker chairs are a popular choice for outdoor patios because they are lightweight and comfortable, but wicker woven from natural rattan or reeds deteriorates quickly from the effects of UV radiation. PE wicker (sometimes called “resin wicker”) provides the same artisan aesthetic and lightweight in a material that’s resistant to UV radiation.

Conclusion:

As you plan to buy the perfect outdoor furniture for your restaurant, realize it all boils down to your preferences, requirements, prevailing weather conditions, and budget. Hopefully, you can use this quick guide to make an informed decision while shopping for your favorite outdoor furniture.

Right restaurant furniture

Buying the Right Restaurant Furniture can Cost you Less

When you are planning to open your new restaurant, you have to make several critical initial decisions. From the menu to ambiance, from restaurant furniture to target customer base, from the type of restaurant to pricing of your dishes, these initial decisions can either make or break your restaurant. Some budding restaurant owners fail to capitalize on the potential of furniture for the growth of their business. Therefore, focus on selecting the best and right restaurant furniture staring with your early days of planning.

How do you go about selecting the right furniture for your restaurant? Which factors should you consider before finalizing your restaurant furniture purchase? How is buying the right restaurant furniture cost effective in the long run? Read on to get the answers to all these questions and much more.

1. Select Furniture that fits Your Restaurant Style and Decor:

interior-of-the-restaurant

When you conceptualize your restaurant, you decide on a particular theme or atmosphere that you wish to create. Whether you go for a contemporary or a modern style, you must get the furniture that fits the selected ambiance. Rather than considering it a separate entity, think of furniture as an extension of the restaurant’s ambiance. From the upholstery on your restaurant chair to the tabletop, everything must be in sync with the interior of your restaurant. This approach helps you in enhancing the overall visual appeal and keeps the ambiance intriguing for your customers. Consider the following aspects while choosing your restaurant furniture

i) Space Constraint:

Restaurant businesses, like any other business, thrive on maximizing profits. Therefore, you must select furniture that not only matches the ambiance, but it also optimizes the seating space available in the dining area. For example, vintage restaurant tables and chairs might look antique and exquisite, but may take more space than other styles. If you don’t have sufficient space, consider sleek and elegant modern furniture instead.

ii) Color Psychology:

modern-restaurant-furniture-style

Noticed how many restaurant owners primarily use some specific colors of furniture? Well, color has a significant impact on the appetite and psyche of your customers. For example, the blue color is known to be appetite depressant, brown and black colors have a warm and inviting appeal for your customers. Similarly, red and yellow stimulate appetite, and you can use these colors along with neutral colors like white or grey while selecting your restaurant tabletops.

iii) Comfort:

wood restaurant tables

Since a restaurant belongs to the service industry, the comfort of your guests is important. As a host, you would want your guests to be comfortable and relaxed during their meals. From the business point of view as well, the longer a customer stays in your restaurant, the more he is likely to order drinks or desserts, and higher will be your sales and profits. For instance, cushioned restaurant booths are more comfortable than wooden benches or chairs. If you are unsure, you can select a winning combination of mixed seating options and let your guests decide for themselves.

iv) Dining Experience:

restaurant booths

From the taste of food to the promptness of service, the overall dining experience at your restaurant is a culmination of several factors; restaurant furniture is one of them. Therefore you must select restaurant furniture that blends with the atmosphere you wish to create and enhances the dining experience. For example, if yours is a fine-dining restaurant, the quality of furniture and upholstery should reflect that. Similarly, if you want to create an intimate setting, you can consider booth seating or partitions between the restaurant tables.

2. Invest in Proper Restaurant Furniture

Restaurant Furniture

At the onset, investing in commercial-grade restaurant furniture might appear unnecessary.  However, by investing in quality furniture, you can avoid the time and money of having to replace them too soon. Visually appealing quality furniture looks good and makes a good impression on your guests. Naturally, by investing in the right furniture, you can increase the number of regular customers, which, in turn, results in more profit.

3. Buy Durable and Easy to Maintain Material

When you are finalizing your restaurant furniture, it might be tempting to select wood frame chairs with intricate carvings and artworks. While such designs look extravagant and pleasing to the eye, they are more work to clean. Rather, select furniture with simple designs that are easy to clean and maintain. By opting for such styles, you can save on cleaning time significantly. Similarly, when it comes to selecting the fabric material for cushions, etc., go for materials that do not get stained easily. Additionally, before finalizing a fabric, consider how it will age with time and moisture, especially if you are considering outdoor seating arrangements.

Wood restaurant chairs

In a typical restaurant, you may have to move the furniture quite often to rearrange them to suit different occasions. Therefore, they must be extremely mobile and durable. If this is the case, consider choosing more lightweight table top options. And check with your vendor to ensure you buy the right base to match the table top’s weight.

Conclusion: 

Starting and running a restaurant business is no simple task. As a restaurant owner, you have to make difficult decisions right from the planning stage until your restaurant is up and running. As you might have understood by now, selecting the right restaurant furniture is crucial for its success. The perfect furniture must be pleasing to your eyes as well as pocket. Additionally, it should be comfortable for your guests and easy to clean for your staff.

This article discusses some critical elements to consider while choosing the best furniture for your restaurant. Hopefully, by taking note of the points mentioned in this article, you will be able to select the perfect furniture that matches the style and interior of your restaurant. As you can see, investing in the right furniture can prove to be cost-effective a few years down the line. More importantly, by using these tips, you can select your restaurant’s furniture according to the expectations of your guests for the best dining experience and profitable business.