Restaurant Booth Layout

Booths are a very popular seating solution for casual dining restaurants and they are becoming even more accepted in quick-serve and fine dining restaurants. As simple as they look, booths can pose several space planning issues.

You want to make sure that the tables you choose to go with your booths are the right size. If the table is too small, people will have to lean over to eat, but if the table is too large people will have a difficult time getting into the booth. Typically booths are 6' from the back of one seat to the back of the facing seat. This allows adequate room for a standard 30" wide table.

As for the length of the table, the only thing to remember is that you do not want the table protruding from the booth seats. Industry standard says that the table should end 1" short of the edge of the booth. This keeps sharp corners out of the walkway, preventing injuries and spills. Also, if the table is too long, it will be difficult for you guests to get in and out of the booth. Consider keeping your booths to a max of 4 people per booth and reserving tables for larger parties.

L-shaped booths are another option. They are great for corners, or for placing at the end of a banquette. You can combine 2 L-shaped booths to create more variety with booths. Keep in mind that L-shaped booths can still be difficult to get into and out of, so do not try to cram too many place settings in one section.

For booth design dimensions and layout ideas, visit Hazelwoods.