A restaurant floor plan is a sketched mockup of your restaurant’s space. A restaurant floor plan encompasses many aspects of a restaurant.
According to a 2020 report by the National Restaurant Association, more than 1 million restaurants open on a daily basis for people to come and eat. From luxury restaurants to fast food, the food industry is highly profitable.
How Do You Build a Restaurant?
Restaurants come with specific rules and regulations. Restaurant construction requires a deep understanding of all applicable codes and education in proper restaurant floorplanning. It is recommended to get in contact with your state and hire a qualified restaurant builder to ensure a smooth construction project.
If you are looking to build a restaurant from the ground up, there are several things you should consider.
- Are you looking for investors? If so, it is wise to include your floor plan in the restaurant’s business plan.
- What is the construction timeline for the restaurant?
- When are you wanting to start the construction process?
- Where are you going to locate this restaurant?
- Have you planned the budget for the construction project?
- What are the local regulations or building codes for restaurants in your area?
- Have you hired a commercial builder?
- What are the local regulations or building codes for restaurants in your area?
- In most areas, you are required to include your restaurant floor plan when applying for business permits.
Restaurant Floorplanning 101
What is a Restaurant Floor Plan?
A restaurant floor plan is defined as a sketched mockup of your restaurant’s space. This floor plan sketch encompasses your dining section, waiting area, storage, kitchen, staff/office areas, delivery port, washrooms, and all access/exit points.
Qualities of a Good Restaurant Floor Plan
A good restaurant floor plan accommodates workflow operation within the area. It should also incorporate and convey the restaurant brand to customers.
Additionally, a good restaurant floor plan should be designed with the type of restaurant in mind since restaurants have different needs. Layouts will vary on the type of restaurant. For a general guide, a 40/60 split between the kitchen and dining room is an industry-standard.
Layout Attributes
One of the most important attributes that your layout must include is restaurant flow. Restaurant flow includes several elements such as:
- People (Customers, vendors, and employees.)
- Utilities (Water, Electricity, Air, Payment and Order Data.)
- Goods and Products (Food, Beverage, and Cutlery Deliveries/Sales)
How to Design a Restaurant Floor Plan
1. Consider the Area you Have to Work With
Refrain from falling in love with a particular restaurant floor plan design without checking the local zoning, restrictions, rules, water lines, electrical lines, and other important elements.
2. Total the Operation Spaces
There are numerous operational spaces that every restaurant should have. The size of each operation space will differ based on the type of restaurant.
3. Focus Primarily on the Kitchen Layout Design
A restaurant without a kitchen is no longer a restaurant. The kitchen holds great importance in the floor planning of a restaurant and must be looked at first. Restaurants commonly design the kitchen to take up 30-40% of the total restaurant space.
Take into account the kitchen design so that food storage, cooking, information, waste, and access points are all working together efficiently.
4. Design the Dining Area Layout
Depending on the type of restaurant, dining space can be important or not.
First, check with your local building permit office for occupancy guidelines for your restaurant. Also, read and familiarize yourself with the ADA guidelines for accessibility. This information will help ensure that your dining area floor plan meets regulatory guidelines.
If you do have a dining area, it should accommodate:
- Transportation to and from the kitchen
- Comfort and functionality for the customers
Check industry standards for a guide.
5. If Applicable, Implement Service and Delivery Points
6. Design Staff Areas
In Conclusion
There’s a lot to consider when it comes to restaurant construction. Your restaurant floor plan defines the operation’s workflow entirely. A layout that works best for your restaurant will depend on the type and space available. Restaurants are some of the most challenging, yet rewarding, construction projects to undertake. Restaurants require specific designs in order to meet strict building codes. We are experienced in working in the restaurant construction industry and are capable of creating the ideal buildings that will meet all of these requirements.
It is wise to contact a qualified restaurant builder for insight and assistance with planning, designing, and building a restaurant. Contact us for more information about building a restaurant.