The shell building is standard commercial in-fill construction. Early in the design a central understanding of the space was simply two zones: a dining room in the front and a kitchen in the rear half of the space.

A wall faced with small porcelain tiles mediates between the two primary zones. The two zones then get knit together in a variety of ways. The kitchen pushes out into the dining area to form the point-of-sale and beverage preparation areas. The dining room gets punched back into the windowless rear of the restaurant (much in the same way individual booths do). This space becomes more finished and intimate. Outside awareness, so prevalent throughout the main dining area, is provided by a single skylight.

In keeping with the character of the menu, the design features very few “off the shelf” items. The intention was to outfit the space with custom-made elements that were comfortable and approachable, not over designed or overly expensive. A system of hot-rolled steel bases was designed to hold up the tables as well as the seating (which is benches made from laminated wood beams). The tables are cast concrete and slotted to allow for the addition of privacy screens in the future, should they be desired.

The same wood beams that create the seats also create the vertical supports for the magazine rack capping the south end of the space. The beams repeat a third time as lateral bracing for the front wall of the building (a job previously done by metal stud “kickers” intended to be hidden above a lay-in ceiling). Cork-clad panels at the ceiling provide sound control. They fill the gaps in the rhythm created by the wood beams.

The cumulative effect is intended to be comfortable but also extremely durable and easy to maintain. The various dining options range from shared “harvest” tables, to countertops facing the sidewalk, to booths carved into the wall, to a soft seating grouping by the magazine rack. The various configurations are intended to provide a range of options for guests to explore and reinforce a larger sense of community.