In April, restaurant development + design readers were asked which restaurant design trend they’d like to see go away and one key theme emerged: readers are sick of industrial and rustic designs.
The industrial and rustic aesthetics were panned repeatedly with readers specifically calling out the following elements that contribute to such designs: industrial, the “garage sale” aesthetic, Edison lamps, unfinished concrete floors, reused barn wood, hard and loud surfaces, the “warehouse look,” and any materials claiming to be “reclaimed.”
Clunky integration of technology got called out repeatedly as well with readers disliking QR codes and tablet ordering at full-service restaurants. They also thought self-service ordering stations with touchscreens were unnecessary because “everyone has a phone.”
Other trends that took a hit: bohemian interiors, open spaces with no acoustic solutions, large wall graphics and murals, white tablecloths, ghost kitchens, local murals at national chains, and selfie walls.
rd+d periodically surveys subscribers on the state of restaurant development and design. This survey was fielded in April 2024. Subscribe to The Pulse to get rd+d’s surveys and results delivered to your inbox six times a year.