01
Restaurant brand & concept strategy
Positioning and guest insight that define the experience before the buildout begins.
Restaurant
Restaurant design that makes the experience as memorable as the food.
Chute Gerdeman is a restaurant design firm that designs dining environments and hospitality brand experiences for QSR, fast-casual and emerging concepts. We have shaped restaurants for brands including Wendy’s, Krispy Kreme, El Pollo Loco, Pizza Inn and Chop5, from brand strategy and concept through environment design, ordering experience and multi-unit rollout.
A restaurant sells a feeling as much as a meal. We design the order flow, materials, lighting and brand story so the space supports throughput and operations while making guests want to come back.
What we do in restaurant
One team, the whole restaurant experience.
02
Dining environment design
Front-of-house layout, materials and lighting that set the mood and move guests efficiently.
03
Ordering & service experience
Counter, drive-thru and digital ordering touchpoints designed around real throughput and operations.
04
Environmental branding & menu systems
Signage, menu boards and graphics that carry the brand and make ordering effortless.
05
Prototype & rollout
Prototype units and documentation engineered to reproduce across franchise and corporate locations.
Selected work
Restaurant projects from the Chute Gerdeman portfolio.
Restaurant
Creating a Fresh Brand From the Ground Up
Chop5 Restaurant Design
Restaurant
Tech Enhanced, Heritage Inspired
El Pollo Loco
Restaurant
Hot Now!
Krispy Kreme
Restaurant
A Bold Brand Refresh
Lee's Famous Recipe Chicken
Restaurant
For People Inn Love with a Great Pizza Experience
Pizza Inn Restaurant Design
Restaurant
A Beacon of Local Flavor
Pizza Patrón
Restaurant
A Recipe for Innovation
Wendy's
Why it matters
Restaurant design has to serve both the guest and the operator. We balance atmosphere with throughput, building prototypes a brand can scale across markets and franchisees.
- 30+
- Years designing dining environments
- QSR→
- Fast-casual and full-service concepts
- Multi-unit
- Prototypes built to franchise at scale
From The Gist
Restaurant thinking, trends and perspective.
Report ·September 10, 2024
Drive-Thru of the Future
The lane is now the front door of quick-service. Our report on how digital order, AI ordering, and multi-lane formats are reshaping the restaurant.
Article ·January 1, 2024
You Are What You Drink: Beverages as Status Symbols
Drinks have become status symbols—elixirs of aspiration, representing flavor taste, lifestyle taste, and identity by association.
Article ·January 1, 2024
Why Restaurants Should Think Like Tech Companies
Technology is poised to revolutionize how we dine. Discover why and how restaurants should think like tech companies to stay competitive.
Article ·January 1, 2024
Why a Tesla Restaurant Might Soon Be on Route - Chute Gerdeman
Electric vehicle leader Tesla might soon be entering the restaurant arena. Explore why the brand is considering the extension to foodservice.
Article ·January 1, 2024
Whole Foods’ National Scale vs. Kroger’s Local Sourcing - Chute Gerdeman
Natural and organic grocer Whole Foods makes a move to mass as Cincinnati-based supermarket chain Kroger fights to maintain market share by refocusing efforts locally.
Article ·January 1, 2024
What Will It Take to Save Upscale Casual Dining?
As values shift towards convenience and affordability, can upscale casual dining regain its popularity? Read on to learn more.
Restaurant design — frequently asked questions
Who designs restaurants for national chains?
Chute Gerdeman is an independent restaurant design firm that designs dining environments for national and emerging chains, including Wendy’s, Krispy Kreme, El Pollo Loco and Pizza Inn. It has designed hospitality and restaurant experiences for more than 30 years.
What does a restaurant design firm do?
A restaurant design firm shapes the guest experience and the operating environment: brand and concept strategy, front-of-house and dining design, the ordering and service flow, environmental branding and menu systems, and prototype units documented for multi-unit rollout.
Can Chute Gerdeman design a restaurant prototype for franchising?
Yes. Chute Gerdeman designs prototype restaurant units and the documentation behind them so a concept reproduces consistently across corporate and franchise locations.
How does restaurant design balance atmosphere and throughput?
Chute Gerdeman designs the order flow, counter and drive-thru, seating and lighting around real operations, so the space feels distinct to guests while keeping service fast and efficient for the operator.