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Flooring can be the least exciting part of the restaurant design process, but it’s ultimately the element that everyone — from customers to staff to vendors — interacts with most. It has a significant impact on people’s ability to safely and successfully navigate the space, and also plays a big role in helping create a restaurant’s ambiance.

Wine displays are “a visual destination that let the story of the dining experience unfold.” So says Tom Davis, restaurant design expert who heads up the Denver office of Davis Wince, a Columbus, Ohio-based architecture firm. 

Originally conceived as a temporary collaboration with the Foundation for the National Archives’ “What’s Cooking, Uncle Sam?” exhibit in Washington, D.C., America Eats Tavern now has a permanent home. Created by multiconcept operators chef José Andrés and Rob Wilder of ThinkFoodGroup, the restaurant opened in June at the Ritz-Carlton hotel in the D.C. suburb of Tysons Corner, Va., a fitting locale for an upmarket concept celebrating Americana in fresh, sophisticated ways.

Larry Singleton, Cracker Barrel

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store operates more than 630 units in 42 states, each of which has 900 to 1,000 original artifacts — from old advertisements and signs to toys, tools and framed photographs — included in its décor package. Like his parents did before him, Larry Singleton manages every step of Cracker Barrel’s décor sourcing, warehousing, restoration and installation process.

For our complete profile on America Eats Tavern click here

Simple, strategic design helps create comfortable, enjoyable family dining experiences.

Great ceiling designs add eye-popping aesthetics, important functionality

Krista Watterworth, of Krista Watterworth Design Studio in Jupiter, Fla., is the star of two HGTV shows and recently teamed up with host Robert Irvine to provide design solutions on Restaurant: Impossible. rd+d asked this restaurant design pro to share a few kid-friendly ideas.