Best Limited-Service Restaurant Design
Winner: Margaux Brasserie, Brookfield, Wis.
Owner: DBA Margaux, Brookfield, Wis.
Architecture/Interior Design: The Kubala Washatko Architects, Cedarburg, Wis.
Interior Design/Fabrication: Three Sixty, Milwaukee
Branding: Design Scout, Chicago
General Contractor: Kelly Construction & Design, Chicago
Food Service: Singer Equipment Company, Elverson, Pa.
Structural Engineering: Pierce Engineers Inc., Chicago
A long and somewhat narrow interior provided opportunities and challenges for the team behind this 5,500-square-foot French restaurant that seats 172. The long plan layout supports three distinct yet interconnected rooms. The bar serves as the social heart and the energy from it flows into a formal dining room and an arched opening beyond frames a garden-like space suitable for private events. Generously proportioned curved banquettes promote connection and provide views for a beloved French pastime — people watching.
The judges felt the team did “a great job of incorporating French opulence within their budget” and thought the design was “efficient, without a lot of wasted space.” They also “liked how they tried to make each space look different with color blocking and nice artwork.”
Images courtesy of Wayne Reckard, The Kubala Washatko Architects
