13 Jul. 22
Form + Function: Seating
You can tell a lot about a restaurant by observing the seating. The choice of seating types and their composition affects guests’ behavior and helps create the desired atmosphere. Intended ambience can range from quiet and intimate to vibrant and boisterous, and seating types contribute mightily to establishing the vibe.
Seating can have an impact on the types of customers an establishment attracts, their overall comfort and the size of groups an establishment can accommodate. Seating also effects guest turnover, which, of course, impacts profitability. Indeed, designers say seating choices ripple through more aspects of an establishment than laypeople would believe.
Restaurant owners have a few broad categories to select from when choosing seating types: conventional chairs, booths and banquettes, benches (generally deployed at long community tables), and high stools/elevated seats commonly used at or near bars. Other important considerations include density of the layout, the plushness of cushions, how much to spend, durability and cleanability, and quality of construction. For textile selection concerns, click here.
Before choosing seats, think through your business plan and the customer experience you want to present. Typically, designers recommend offering a variety of seating options whether your restaurant is a QSR, fast-casual, fine dining, food hall, or occupies another niche. Most restaurants attract customers from multiple demographic groups — families with children, older adults, young single adults and adult couples. Each group tends to have its own seating preferences.
Variety of Choices
If your aim is to attract a broad demographic, offer appropriate seating for the various cohorts. “Booth settings are ideal for families,” points out Ed Doyle, president, Real Food Hospitality. “They provide shelter and privacy.” That benefits other diners as well by providing separation from misbehaving children. For older diners, sturdy seats with arms make it easier to stand up, Doyle adds. Couples looking for an intimate dining experience appreciate plush cushioned seats suitable for longer stays.
Look at the dining area holistically and consider three elements — density, comfort and elevation — when choosing seating types, Doyle says. In high-density areas with guests sitting close together, you will need smaller seats to accommodate more people. This rules out banquettes and wide chairs with arms. On the other hand, spaces with widely separated tables make just about any seating option viable.
Elevated seating adds variety. “By providing elevated booths or stools, you create visual peaks and valleys,” says Jessica Earp, interior designer, Cushing Terrell. In a large space, this breaks up what would otherwise be monotonous rows of tables. Elevation is also a good way to establish private nooks and present a hierarchy of space functionality, Earp says. High tables and chairs, for instance, are a widely accepted visual cue of an area for drinks and appetizers. Booths and banquettes also create zones that at a quick glance make it obvious that the place provides a variety of comfortable seating.
Seating Influences Behavior
Plush seating at Tapestry in Boston adds a touch of elegance. Photo by Jared KuziaSeating type influences the posture of guests. A high bar stool, for example, prompts guests to sit up straight and lean forward. This aids in creating a lively ambience, inspiring guests to engage with each other and with bartenders. Plush banquettes, on the other hand, make people more inclined to sit back and relax. “Softer and squishier translates to lower energy,” Doyle says. This makes perfect for a quiet, romantic vibe.
Posture and comfort also impact guest turnover. Seat comfortability ranges from hard (wood or plastic) to generously cushioned options that one might find in a typical home’s family room. The more comfortable the seating, the more likely diners will be amenable to a longer stay.
The growth of work-from-home employment during the pandemic has stimulated a trend among some establishments to provide lounge-like furnishings. “Customers are looking for a third space, not home or the office, to hang out,” Earp says. Plush, comfortable sofas or generously sized chairs makes it more desirable for people to do a little work, have a few drinks and enjoy a light meal in a setting away from the home office.
Hard seats are suitable for people grabbing a quick bite at a fast-food joint. A happy medium — cushioned but not too plush — works well in a fast-casual atmosphere seeking moderately quick turnover of an hour or less.
