Case Histories - Restaurant

A chef with an excellent local reputation found backers to open his own place in suburban Connecticut. The concept was high-end pizza, with a display kitchen and a large wine list. The target market was a mix of serious food people, families and visitors to the nearby tourist spots, as well as couples out for the evening. The original idea for the décor was to craft an eclectic interior that looked like it came from "the Salvation Army in a small Italian city." Iva introduced the restaurateurs to two designers, both based in lower Manhattan, both with small offices, and both of whom had done several small but very successful restaurants with that kind of versatility. After sharing the business plan and interviewing the two firms, the owners received proposals that met their criteria for experience, cost and project understanding.