Restaurant booths have become a popular choice for seating customers by providing a relaxing experience for patrons as well as contributing to a more efficient and visually pleasing dining atmosphere. By strategically placing booths throughout the establishment, restaurants can effectively reduce traffic and eliminate the need for servers to constantly navigate around table arrangements, resulting in a smoother and more seamless service.
In addition to their functional advantages, booths offer a private dining experience that is highly valued by many customers. With their tall backrests and enclosed design, booths create a sense of intimacy and seclusion, allowing diners to enjoy their meal without feeling exposed to the hustle and bustle of the restaurant. Moreover, their aesthetic appeal adds a touch of sophistication and elegance to any establishment leaving a lasting impression on guests.
When comparing booth seating to standard restaurant chairs, it is evident that the former provide a more comfortable experience for diners. With their padded seats and supportive backrests, booths offer a level of comfort that is unmatched by traditional chairs or bar stools. Restaurateurs also use banquettes to maximize seating space by placing them along walls and niches where chairs and tables might not fit.
5 Tips for Choosing Restaurant Booths
When choosing commercial booths for your restaurant, you should consider their style, the materials and shape.
Matching the style of booth to the restaurant’s interior design is essential to enhancing the overall aesthetic and creating a cohesive atmosphere. Here are some key points to consider when selecting booth that complement your restaurant's theme:
- Identify your restaurant's theme: Determine the overall style or theme of your restaurant. Is it rustic, modern, retro, industrial, vintage, or perhaps elegant and refined? Understanding your theme will help guide your booth selection process.
- Consider the materials: Choose booth materials that align with your restaurant's style. For a rustic theme, opt for wooden booths with distressed finishes. In a modern restaurant, consider plush vinyl padded booths in dark muted colors. Retro styles can be complemented with vinyl or bright-colored booths, whereas vintage themes often pair well with plush fabric booths.
- Focus on colors: Colors play a vital role in setting the mood and overall aesthetic. Ensure the booth colors harmonize with the restaurant's color scheme. For example, if your restaurant features warm-toned walls and accents, consider booth upholstery in complementing hues. In contrast, monochrome or contrasting colors can add a bold touch in a more contemporary establishment.
- Upholstery patterns and textures: The patterns and textures of booth upholstery can significantly contribute to the style of your restaurant. Simple designs like solid colors or subtle patterns work well for modern or minimalist themes. Floral or retro patterns can enhance a vintage or bohemian atmosphere. Consider textures that align with your theme, such as smooth padded vinyl for an upscale restaurant or textured fabrics for a cozy, casual vibe.
- Style matters: Booths are available in a wide range of styles, serving to enhance and harmonize with your existing decor. Options include: plain back - suitable for most locations including coffee shops and casual dining, button tufted - usually found in fine dining establishments, bead board - perfect for churches and other communal gathering locations, 3 channels and V-back - ideal for retro and diners.
Understand how many occupants can fit in each booth shape
- Single Booth– One booth bench. Sits up to two people comfortably side by side.
- Double Booth – Sits up to 4 people with 2 people sitting side by side and 2 more back to back.
- ½ Circle Booth – Standard dimensions are 48” x 90” x 48”. Can seat 4 people.
- ¾ Circle Booth – Standard dimensions of 48” x 90” x 90” x 48” can seat 6 people.
- Wall Bench – Available in various lengths, this booth is usually paired with restaurant table-and-chair sets allowing for comfortable seating and enough isle room for servers and patrons.
- L-Shape Booth – Mostly used in corners and allows for optimal use of space.
- Deuce Single Booth – Similar to that of a single booth but measures 30” instead of 48” long. Known as a single person booth (sits 1 person).
- Deuce Double Booth – Measures 30” long, in contrast to the standard double booth’s 48” length. Allows two people to sit back-to-back.
Consider the amount of available space when choosing your booth sizes
When deciding the amount of space available in your restaurant for choosing the booth sizes, there are a few factors to consider. Here are some key points to keep in mind:
Layout and Space Planning: Start by assessing the overall layout and dimensions of your restaurant. Consider the available floor space, the shape of the dining area, and any architectural features or limitations that may impact booth placement.
Seating Capacity: Determine the desired seating capacity of your restaurant. Consider the number of guests you aim to accommodate during peak times. This will help you decide the number of booths needed and their sizes.
Comfort and Spacing: It is crucial to prioritize guest comfort. Allow enough space between each booth for comfortable movement and ease of sitting down and standing up. The typical distance between tables or booths is around 18-24 inches, but this may vary based on your specific needs and local regulations.
Table Placement: Determine the placement of tables or other seating options in addition to booths. This will help you strike a balance between booth and table seating, maximizing the use of space while ensuring customer preference and comfort.
5. Familiarize yourself with booth components and their terminology
- Top & End Caps –The caps are placed on the sides and top of a booth to cover the frame. Upholstered caps are standard but you can also upgrade to solid wood / laminate caps. When measuring the booths dimensions the height and length include the top and end caps.
- Head Roll – A cushioned, upholstered component situated at the top of the booth, serving to enhance comfort.
- Crumb Strip – Measuring 1 1/2" in width, it is specifically designed to be placed between the back of the booth and the seat. Its primary purpose is to facilitate effortless cleaning.
- Welt Cord – A durable and strong cord stitched to the sides of the seat for both strength and added style.