Speciality Restaurants

The 1852 Grill Dining Room is located within the oldest landmark hotel on historic Mackinac Island, where bicycles and horse drawn vehicles are the only modes of transportation besides walking. This newly renovated restaurant, with breathtaking harbor views, is a reminiscent escape to the relaxed atmosphere found on the island. The bright and airy decor has been achieved through the use of light colors, creative lighting solutions, vibrant upholstery fabrics and the addition of clerestory windows along the previously windowless side façade. Cozy booths and seating alcoves have been incorporated into the design to encourage intimate dining for couples and families on island getaways.

The name “BARista” describes the combination of a full service bar with a gourmet coffee venue at Chicago’s Midway Airport. This efficiently designed 150 square foot kiosk offers mixed drinks, wine, beer, espresso beverages, coffee and tea, frozen drinks, bottled beverages, fresh baked goods, Panini’s plus various accompaniments such as chips and fruit. The open design is accentuated by the use of a high gloss lacquer facade and illuminated displays. Every square foot is utilized to offer the traveler with many choices for food and beverage while the food service equipment is hidden behind smoothly fluid cabinetry.

Sarfatty Associates partnered with State Farm to create a community space and café where anyone could ask questions about finances and insurance and get some answers. The result is a casual neighborhood hangout and educational center, where neighbors can speak with financial advisors and fuel up on great local coffee. Everything offered at Next Door is free except the coffee.

The original Manny’s Coffee Shop & Deli came into being during World War II, when the Raskin brothers split up so that Jack could open his own restaurant on Roosevelt Road near the open-air market area known as Maxwell Street. Now the Midway airport traveler can stop in for a true authentic Chicago Deli experience at Chicago’s Midway Airport. The serving counter, décor and graphic signage are all reminiscent of their main Roosevelt Road location. The bright well designed express deli counter and food service equipment layout speeds service and encourages customers to custom design their menu choices.

This French bistro serves as the breakfast and lunch venue for the Sheraton Chicago. The rich decor combines warm hued banquette fabrics set against deep walnut stained paneling and a shimmering glass mosaic floor. The restaurant announces itself through a bold storefront of glazing and waterfalls set in a dark paneled framework. Three separate buffet pods serve up cold parfaits/salads, hot savories and crepes/pastries designed for efficient queuing while accomodating state-of-the-art equipment. For example, the hot pod is fitted with Smartstone countertops that conceal individual induction warmers for food holding while maintaining a seamless appearance.

Wi-fi signals and coffee aromas fill the air at one of the first ‘Link @ Sheraton Cafe’ concepts unveiled in the US. This venue expands on the ‘Sheraton Link’ concept of an informal networking and information lounge by adding a grab ‘n’ go sandwich and beverage cafe. Sarfatty Associates developed the cafe display and service fixtures based on the curved, slatted wall themes of the brand standard ‘Link’ casework. The space has a vibrant digital buzz about it filled with flat-screen TVs, computer screens and interactive Microsoft Surface touch-activated coffee tables.

Our winning concept was selected from several design proposals to be implemented for this new banquet and restaurant facility located amidst the prairies of Antioch, Illinois. The functional areas for this multi-use food service and hospitality venue are molded to the site and combine to derive the Prairie Style Architectural character of the building. As a result, the building appears to grow from the surrounding prairie, with linear window massing that defines the building’s architectural style and also provides a luminescent glow at night.

This specialty restaurant is carved out of unused open lobby space that faces the Chicago River. In a partnership with the client, we designed low undulating partitions to enclose the seating and serving areas. The décor utilizes textured finishes and colorful playful lighting in order to achieve the desired ambience. The special awnings define and protect outdoor seating while providing the exterior visual identity needed to attract customers along the river promenade.

The goal of this adaptive re-use of a former Burger King restaurant building is to reiterate Augustino’s motto of “Feed Your Inner Rock Star!” This has been accomplished through the use of rock n’ roll memorabilia, and 1950’s design features both inside and outside the building. To further develop the goal of the restaurant’s image, musical iconography is used by adorning the exterior façade with a piano, a guitar and a juke box.

To give travelers a real taste of Chicago, the food court and adjacent retail area was designed to emulate a neighborhood street featuring local Chicago businesses. Working with independent restaurants and retailers Sarfatty Associates designed unique venues including Gold Coast Dogs, Lalo’s Mexican Restaurant, Pegasus on the Fly, Illinois Bar & Grill, Reilly’s Daughter (Irish Pub), George’s Music Room and Viva’s Hallmark. Each location incorporates the décor, food service and merchandising elements which makes that particular venue unique.