Blog Post: “Staring at the wall” (Jun. 2006)

excerpt:
“Architects may spend millions designing a restaurant, but if you’re staring at a wall — even if it’s an elegant glazed plaster wall — does it really matter?

…This feeling of isolation can easily be remedied by incorporating a strip of mirroring above the booths, which allows the diners facing the wall to view the room and feel a part of the action.”

source: “Staring at the wall” by Michael Bauer (Between Meals, Jun.16,2006)

Article: “Designs on menus” (Jun.2006)

excerpt:
“Diners may regard a menu as little more than a restaurant’s bill of fare, but chefs and owners know these deceptively simple-looking lists are layered with significance.

…Experts agree.

“The menu is probably the single most important piece of marketing [a restaurant] will ever produce,” says Isidore Kharasch, president of Hospitality Works Inc., a restaurant consulting firm in Deerfield. “What they do with it can make a big difference in how people spend money, how they perceive the restaurant–it’s really the whole package.”

source: “Designs on menus” by Janet Franz (Chicago Tribune, Jun.29,2006)

Article: “Correct Lighting Brightens Up Dining” (May 2006)

excerpt:
"There's something all savvy restaurateurs know about creating a great place to dine. Service, cuisine and furnishings are critical, certainly. But just as key is the lighting. Lighting not only highlights architecture and spotlights food, it's what brings romance and glamour to a room.

"When you walk into a restaurant and it has that great orangey glow, it makes you feel good and it makes you look good," says Michael Palermo, development director for the Starr Restaurant Organization."

source: "Correct Lighting Brightens Up Dining" by Eils Lotozo (May 13,2006)

The above excerpt is taken from an article that is focused on home dining, however restaurants may find some of the information helpful. Below are additional links with helpful information:

Tips For Choosing The Right Lighting For Your Restaurant Business (allfoodbusiness.com)
Is It Dark In Here, Or What? (Restaurant Hospitality)
GE Lighting Toolkit (GE Consumer & Industrial)