Restaurant architect helps owners build success

Critics review food, drink, and chefs, but rarely do you see them mention architecture when they write about their restaurant experiences.

Yet what your restaurant looks like, what it feels like, and the atmosphere it creates can make or break a restaurant's ability to keep clientele.

McAllister Architects in Old Town, Alexandria, designed Ted's Bulletin, Rustico, The Corner Bakery, and dozens of other well-known eateries. He recently told me the common mistakes restaurant owners make when designing their businesses.

"They  try to crowd too much equipment, tables, and booths into limited space," said Lee McAllister, principal of McAllister Architects in Alexandria. "Though they do it to maximize profit, unless you have enough space to create a relaxed atmosphere, customers can be turned off."

Designing restaurants without ceilings and employing design ductwork in high spaces creates an almost-outdoors feeling for diners, McAllister said.

The same space that comes across as crowded can be designed to reflect the airiness and comfort of a place with twice the square footage, he said.

If you're looking for an architect to design  your new location or to renovate your existing space, call McAllister at 703-973-8261 or email him at lmcallister@mca-arch.com.