{"id":1828,"date":"2010-07-25T02:10:46","date_gmt":"2010-07-25T06:10:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/synergylightingusa.com\/?p=1828"},"modified":"2010-07-25T02:10:46","modified_gmt":"2010-07-25T06:10:46","slug":"well-balanced-lighting-in-restuarants","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mrmuckle.com\/hansen\/2010\/07\/25\/well-balanced-lighting-in-restuarants\/","title":{"rendered":"The Importance Of Well Balanced Lighting In Restuarants"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Restaurant<\/a>There is no feeling like that of sitting down to eat at a good restaurant with good service.\u00a0\u00a0 From the time we walk in the door capturing a sweet aroma of fresh grilled entrees, to the time we are seated by a pleasant and smiling hostess, we are in store for a treat.\u00a0 One would only assume that the decor has been well designed, the menu carefully selected and the service well performed.\u00a0 This is what we all expect of a restaurant.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Importance Of Lighting<\/h2>\n

With the high risk associated with restaurants,\u00a0it is absolutely vital to provide not only good food and service to clientele, but it is crucial that the clients leave\u00a0feeling good about the decision to eat in a particular establishment.\u00a0\u00a0 This goes to every last detail from plate garnishment to easy to understand menus.\u00a0\u00a0 However the most often overlooked item is lighting<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0 Restaurants often have multiple types of lighting fixtures<\/a>\u00a0to help create the overall atmosphere and design image.\u00a0\u00a0 According to the American Lighting Association<\/a>\u00a0restaurants should have no less than (2) levels of light consisting of task and accent lighting, with a high recommendation of dimmable light bulbs<\/a> and systems.\u00a0 By using multiple lighting fixture types a design image can create brilliant displays of decor, and architecture while providing a primary focus on the dining table.\u00a0\u00a0 The dining table is where light balance becomes crucial for a restaurant.\u00a0 If a table is poorly lit, food can appear dull and unappealing despite flavor and presentation.\u00a0 Meanwhile over illuminated tables can be too bright and distract from a pleasant dining experience.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Well Balanced Lighting Affects Return Visits<\/h2>\n

\"Restaurant<\/a>All to often in restaurants we find that there is a difference in lighting over tables versus booth seating areas.\u00a0 This may consist of recessed cans or track over\u00a0table tops and pendant lighting over booths and bar areas.\u00a0\u00a0 When serving customers in a restaurant, you must ensure that every customer has the ability to receive the same levels of service, and pleasant experience no matter the seating area.\u00a0 Because different seating areas have different styles of fixtures, a restaurateur must ensure that the light delivered to the table is well balanced and equal from either fixture type.\u00a0 Recently while dining in an Applebees restaurant I was seated at a table top which sat under track lighting.\u00a0 Installed in the track was a 50 Watt Halogen<\/a> Spot Light.\u00a0 The light was so focused on the table that it created glare and a hot spot on the table, while across the isle were booths that had pendant lights with bottom globes<\/a>.\u00a0 The booths had only a fraction of the light provided to our table, and no relative hot spots.\u00a0 In this scenario, my dining experience was in the hot seat while diners seated in booths could barely see the food on their plates.<\/p>\n

Balancing light levels to ensure a consistent and pleasing dining experience is crucial to the subconscious emotions that a customer will experience.\u00a0\u00a0 In the case of Applebees, a lower wattage narrow flood should have been installed over tables, while a higher wattage lamp should have been installed over booths.\u00a0 In the photo above you will notice a hot spot in the bar area to the lower right of the image.\u00a0 This is a hot spot created by poor lamp selection.\u00a0\u00a0 The result of this “seat yourself” restaurant was that the table with the hot spot remained empty throughout the course of our meal, where other tables with well balanced lighting sat\u00a0to capacity.<\/p>\n

For more information on Light Balance, view our website or call Synergy Lighting<\/a> for a free consultation<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Phone: (941)-756-4844<\/p>\n

Toll Free: (877) 220-5483<\/p>\n

e-mail: sales@synergylightingusa.com<\/a><\/p>\n

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