rd+d - Q&A

Peer to Peer: John Ramsay, Taco Cabana

John Ramsay, Taco Cabana’s director of franchise sales and development, recently spoke with rd+d about the new prototype, the chain’s franchising strategy and what excites him about the restaurant industry today.

2025 Designers Dish!

Each year, rd+d’s Designers Dish! checks in with a handful of designers from across the country to gather insights on what’s hot, what’s impacting their work and how their thinking around restaurant design continues to evolve.

Peer to Peer: Kyle Gordon, CEO and Co-founder, Dillas Quesadillas

Founded in 2013, Dillas (pronounced “dill-uhs”) Quesadillas specializes in quality quesadillas served fast alongside french fries (regular or loaded), chips and other sides.

Peer to Peer: Jason Morgan, Original ChopShop

CEO Jason Morgan assumed leadership of Original ChopShop in 2016. Here, he shares what’s in store for the brand moving forward.

Readers Dish: Lauren Chipman, CEO, Chipman Design Architecture

Lauren Chipman is the CEO of Chipman Design Architecture in Des Plaines, Ill. The firm has six offices across the country, in New York City, Atlanta, Phoenix, Los Angeles, and Portland, Ore.

Talk Shop: Greg Bradshaw, Co-Founder and Principal, AvroKO and GoodShop

AvroKO is a well-known global design firm with a strong focus on restaurants, headquartered in New York City. In 2006, the company added GoodShop to its portfolio, specifically to fabricate furniture for its clients.Here, Greg Bradshaw, co-founder and principal, discusses having an in-house fabrication company.

Peer to Peer: Debbie Roxarzade, Founder and CEO, Rachel’s Kitchen

Here, Debbie Roxarzade, founder and CEO, addresses the state of play at Rachel’s Kitchen.

Readers Dish: Mollie Bean, Principal, MB Within Interior Design, Charleston, S.C

MB Within Interior Design, based in Charleston, touts a portfolio of restaurant, residential and retail clients from Charleston to New York and beyond.

Talk Shop: Tim Spiegelglass, Spiegelglass Construction Company

Tim Spiegelglass has been involved in the construction industry since before he could walk. He was born into the family that owns Spiegelglass Construction Company in St. Louis.

Readers Dish: Robert Ervin Owner, principal architect, Ervin Architecture

Restaurants have been a specialty of Ervin Architecture since its founding and its portfolio of architecture and interior design work now showcases a diverse array of commercial restaurant, hospitality and entertainment industry projects as well as luxury residences.

Peer to Peer: Otto Othman, Co-Founder & CEO, PINCHO Burgers & Kebabs

Othman shares some highlights and challenges of the journey so far.

Designers Dish 2024

What’s in? What’s out? For insights on trends and strategies, we turned to four veteran designers and architects.

What it Takes to be a Restaurant Muralist

Alixandra Jade is an artist in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, who paints murals inside restaurants.

Peer to Peer: Jeff Drake, CEO and President, Protein Bar & Kitchen

Protein Bar & Kitchen (PBK) is primed for growth.

Peer to Peer: Antonio McBroom, Primo Partners

Franchise developer Antonio McBroom discusses getting into franchising and growing his business.

Readers Dish: Chris Jamison, CEO, COJE Management Group

In Boston, COJE Management Group is synonymous with dining that offers great food, social-media-friendly drinks, and maximalist designs that together create memorable, immersive dining experiences at their restaurants and bars.

Peer to Peer: Casey Biehl, Vice President of Operations, Fat Boy’s Pizza

Relative to some of the giants that dominate the segment, Fat Boy’s Pizza may be relatively small, but the chain has a hearty appetite for growth.

In Focus: Food Hall Design

Here, we talk to Yuwen Peng about food hall design.

2023 Designers Dish!

All restaurants, regardless of concept or industry segment, need to get one fundamental right: Provide good food and good service at a price their customers feel is fair.

VP of Development Shares What's in Store for Scooter’s Coffee in 2023

From navigating supply chain challenges to finding people to staff each new location, adding units has never been trickier for restaurant chains. Yet some chains continue to march onward.

The C-Suite Looks Ahead

We talked to five restaurant chain leaders to get their take on where the restaurant industry is right now and where it’s going.

Architect Offers an Inside Look at the Renovation of a Historic Country Club

John Kirk, AIA, partner at Cooper Robertson, discusses the master plan and architectural design for the historic Farmington Country Club in Charlottesville, Va.

Mutts Canine Cantina Cashes in on the Membership Model

Mutts Canine Cantina combined membership with beer, burgers, puppies and puns to create a recipe for business success.

Developers Dish!

Development gurus from five brands spoke to rd+d about how the market is looking for them, currently and looking forward.

Expert Shares Insights on Theater and "Eatertainment" Design

Theresa English, Principal at TK Architects, provides insight on post-pandemic cinema and “eatertainment” designs.

Jon Taffer Shares his Vision for the Restaurant of the Future

Founder of Taffer’s Tavern, Executive Producer & Host of Bar Rescue, Jon Taffer discusses his vision for the casual-dining restaurant of the future, how his concept marries old-school hospitality with modern technologies, and his optimism for the 2020s.

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