May 28, 2020 When preparing to reopen, restaurant owners will have to rethink their method for taking reservations, their customer flow, and their patio layout. Read more about this post
October 25, 2019 By Gregory Furgala Eataly, the chain of high-end Italian food markets, is set to open its flagship Toronto location next month, which along with a massive selection of groceries includes four sit-down restaurants. The restaurants will run the gamut of Italian cuisine. A Pizza & La Pasta will, naturally, cover Italian staples; La Pescheria will feature a seafood-focused menu; La ... Read more about this post
July 23, 2019 By Chris Hannah In Canada, patio season is very much a moving target. We are all anxious to embrace it and always want to be ready to take advantage when the good weather hits. Being ready means thinking about ever part of the patio and how to maximize the impact of each element without breaking the ... Read more about this post
May 14, 2019 By Divakar Raju
While we tend to assume foodies are Instagramming Millennials, there are other important players leading the charge in the evolution of food culture. Boomers are huge influencers, and they lend their clout to different areas as they retire. According to StatCan, 5,000 Canadian Boomers are retiring each week. A boom that once represented birth ... Read more about this post
July 17, 2018 From the spring 2018 issue of Canadian Restaurant & Foodservice News
By Chris Hannah
In my early days of teaching design, I had to write a quiz for students learning the process for the first time. As it happens, I was sitting in a client’s restaurant composing the test, when he walked by and asked what I ... Read more about this post
June 28, 2018 By Caileen Kehayas
Every neighbourhood has a dead spot, a space where restaurant after restaurant cycles through, each attempting to overcome the curse that did in the last before succumbing to the sea of red ink that’s formed beneath them. It’s both unfortunate and probable: the median lifespan of a restaurant is a scant 4.5 years, ... Read more about this post
January 22, 2018 By Judy Henderson
We’ve all been to a themed restaurant; perhaps you’ve salivated over smoked beef brisket served by a gentleman resembling John Wayne, or you’ve tucked into moussaka beside a mural depicting Santorini on the Aegean Sea. There’s certainly a place for these kinds of restaurants but as a modern hospitality designer, I tend to ... Read more about this post
November 14, 2017 By Judy Henderson
As hospitality designers, it’s our job to provide clients with a finished space that looks current. In my view, we also need to create a design that will stand the test of time and provide the client with true value. The photo above is a restaurant project my firm did in 2006. The ... Read more about this post
October 18, 2017 By Chris Hannah
Being a restaurant designer, it’s impossible not to have a passion for food. As I continue my own culinary education, one of the great parallels between food and design is the ever-evolving landscape in which they live.
We are constantly bombarded with media that investigates and dissects both food and design on many levels ... Read more about this post
September 12, 2017 By Judy Henderson
When staying at a hotel and on the look out for a good spot to eat, I always check with the concierge. If their reply is “we have a great restaurant”, that’s when I run a mile in the other direction. Hotel restaurants tend to be buried on an upper level and occupied ... Read more about this post
August 14, 2017 By Aaron Jourden
In this edition of “concepts to watch,” we highlight three restaurant concepts that are making an impact on Canadian diners this August. Here’s a look at the characteristics and menu offerings that make these restaurants unique:
Kekuli Cafe Coffee & Bannock
Instagram: 1,232 followers | Facebook: 6,197 | Twitter: 5,398 followers
Locations: 2 (British Columbia)
Concept characteristics: First ... Read more about this post
July 27, 2017 By Judy Henderson
By now your renovated restaurant is no longer just a dream and is getting close to becoming a reality. As the final touches are being completed, now is the time to make sure your relaunch plans are set for success.
Since my expertise is design, I’ve asked my communications guy, Michael Ford, owner of ... Read more about this post
July 24, 2017 By Alice Sinia, Ph.D.
To keep up with changing times and styles, every restaurant will need to undergo a renovation at some point. An upgraded dining room and kitchen can do wonders, from revitalizing the dining atmosphere to enhancing the chef’s ability to turn around delicious dishes. However, renovations can also welcome unwanted guests – pests. ... Read more about this post
June 29, 2017 By Judy Henderson
We’ve already covered starting, planning and designing your restaurant’s renovation. The day will come during that process when the kitchen falls silent (hopefully your chefs are testing a new menu in another working kitchen) and construction starts. As the sledge hammer makes its mark on the walls, you’ll be glad you spent the ... Read more about this post
June 7, 2017 By Aaron Jourden
In this edition of “concepts to watch,” we highlight three restaurant concepts that are making an impact on Canadian diners. Here’s a look at the characteristics and menu offerings that make these restaurants unique:
Flock Rotisserie + Greens
Instagram: 4,349 followers | Facebook: N/A | Twitter: 561 followers
Locations: 4 (Toronto)
Concept characteristics: Quality, naturally raised rotisserie chicken
Signature ... Read more about this post
