Restaurants That Work: Case Studies of the Best in the Industry

I own a pretty sucessful bar in Santa Barbara California and decided (about a year ago) to try my hand in the Restaurant Business. Before I could turn back, the lease was signed, money was coming in...there was no escape. I was pretty terrified.I decided to learn everything I could about design, management, success' and failures. The principal way I did this was to order an armada of books about the business. In all I think I bought roughly 20 books. Most of them were somewhat helpful, but none of them approached the value of this fine book.Chronicling almost 3 dozen successful cases from such diverse business' as China Grill and Farallon, every aspect of the business is covered - design, capitalization, management organization, revenue and profit - FANTASTIC.I can't recommend this book any higher. It was an enormous help to me in putting my new restaurant together.Christian HunterOwner - Sevilla Restaurant, Santa Barbara

If you are seeking concrete information into the whys and wherefores of creating and building upon a solid restaurant concept, this is the book for you. It is overflowing with detailed descriptions, practical advice, layouts, menus, square footage, operation costs... much more than I anticipated. Although at first glance it seems to be another glossy "picture" book with a high design value (which is greatly appreciated), it is in fact a true workbook and manual. The numbers are all here, allowing the reader to compare and contrast. If you are working on a business plan, this is ideal, because it is a great aid for making realistic projections. Restaurants That Work is extremely thorough and well worth the price. I am very pleased and my only gripe is that I didn't purchase this sooner!

This is without a doubt the best book I have found on restaurant design. From concept to completion and everything in between, this a truly indsepensible book for reference. Every prospective restauranteuer and restaurant designer/architect should have a copy and USE it. Martin E. Dorf asks all the right questions and explains possible solutions to prevent common restaurant design mistakes.

If you are looking for the best of the best in restaurant design in the pursuit of total "conceptual integrity" you should read this book.

Even at first read the case studies presented with interviews, photos, pro formas, and floor plan layouts are a glimpse into the genius of professionals at the top of the hospitality field.All people in any business, of any size, can benefit from the analysis of restaurant design from all perspectives: design and construction, size and site, cost and value, finish and feeling.In fact, feeling is the best word to describe the passion of people doing what they love. Their desire to create the best for the customer is a reciprocal relationship that pays dividends for a long time.An inspirational read that I pull off the bookshelf repeatedly.