Guide to Restaurant Construction

There’s a lot that goes into restaurant construction – from charming investors to finding and hiring restaurant contractors– and restaurateurs’ minds are expected to be in a million places at once.

When it comes to building out a new restaurant, there are lots of different restaurant designers, contractors, consultants, and specialists that will all contribute. 

There are timelines to consider, lots of stakeholders, and best practices for restaurant construction. We’ll walk through the main considerations for building restaurants, incorporating strategies to build and design a beautiful, inclusive space for your future patrons.

Restaurants have their own set of rules and regulations that vary from residential or other commercial spaces. Restaurant construction requires a deep understanding of all applicable codes, including building, ADA and health. 

When starting out a restaurant construction project, you’ll need to consider the following:

• Who will your restaurant construction team be?
• What is your restaurant construction timeline?
• Where will you build your restaurant?
• How will you pay for your new restaurant?
• Will you lease or buy your new space?
• Are there any permits you need to open your restaurant?
• What are the local regulations or building codes for restaurants in your area?

There’s a lot to consider when it comes to restaurant design and construction; how’re you supposed to know what you don’t already know? 

When you set out to build a restaurant, you’ll be investing all of your time and effort, (and blood, sweat, and tears) into the project. Here are some major challenges that can be avoided with the right preparation and planning.

• Get a few different quotes and opinions on restaurant contractors or construction companies, it may save you money and it will give you a sense for industry standards
• Follow all health, building, or any regulatory codes — we can’t stress this enough — cutting corners will not pay off (think: fines, lawsuits, and the like)
• Think ahead: how will your decisions in restaurant construction and design work during different seasons? What if you become really popular and have crowds? Experienced restaurant construction companies are familiar with these challenges and considerations and can help you mitigate future issues
• Create a timeline with the understanding that it probably won’t be exactly right. Construction in general isn’t a perfect science, and building a restaurant workflow requires many different teams and stakeholders, so give yourself a cushion for your launch date and be prepared to make changes

Building a restaurant that is up to code and embodies your vision can take time. Depending on the type of restaurant, the timelines will look different as well. Building a restaurant construction schedule should factor in your various teams of engineers, contractors, specialists, and designers as well as your budget and resources.

Now that you’ve thought through some of the specifics of restaurant building, here are 7 steps to transform your restaurant vision from dream to reality.

Restaurant Construction Checklist

1. Find a specialized restaurant construction team or restaurant contractor
2. Pick the right location with a combination of adequate space, foot traffic, physical location and accessibility, and utilities
3. Review available utilities and services like electrical power, water, waste, and more
4. Read the lease and review it with your restaurant construction teams and a real estate lawyer
5. Follow building and regulatory codes
6. Choose the right equipment layout for efficiency and consult with restaurant design and construction experts
7. Create a design that suits your restaurant type and factor in your specific customer needs