INSIGHTSNELSON Designs the Ultimate Dining Experience

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Of the many elements that influence a desired dining experience, design is frequently represented but often overlooked. From the restaurant’s interior design to unique plating styles, the discipline of design is everywhere. To bring awareness to the importance of design in dining, the Design Museum in Boston announced “Design for Dining,” a public exhibition distributed across seven restaurants in Downtown Boston, showcasing how designers shape the dining experience.

After hearing about this opportunity and connecting with the Design Museum, the NELSON Boston Team met with the owners of MAST’ and discussed their vision and goals for the restaurant. One of the many conversation points that peaked the team’s interest was the notion that the MAST’ chef wished to begin expanding the menu options and introducing some new dishes. To help with this vision and get the chef more involved with guests, the NELSON Team developed the concept of a chef’s table as a vehicle to experiment new menu options.

To give guests a space that was visible from the entrance yet private due to its immediate surroundings, the NELSON Team decided upon a corner of the dining room for the placement of the chef’s table. To give it some distinction and exclusivity from the other tables, Jamie Stern helped the team design a custom high back L-shaped banquette with distressed leather. The table was paired with some of Emeco’s Kong arm chairs from SL Group which are a modern take on a traditional Louis XVI oval back chair entirely in brushed aluminum.

The table itself was fabricated by one of NELSON Boston’s designers, Lauren Perich. The top was composed from reclaimed wood and designed to be rectangular in shape with a whimsical base repurposed from a turn of the century sewing machine. The table provides placement for eight with the end of the table left open for the chef to address and serve the guests.

NELSON Designs the Ultimate Dining Experience

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One of the challenges the team faced with the concept was the table’s location. Chef’s tables are generally located adjacent to or even sometimes in the kitchen. However, since the kitchen at MAST’ is located on the lower level of the restaurant, direct guest interaction was not possible. Additionally, the owners wanted to encompass a “steampunk” aesthetic for MAST’ and the NELSON Team had to properly capture this in their chef’s table.

The NELSON Team connected with Bruce Rosenbaum, owner of ModVic, who is known for his steampunk creations. Together, the idea to use technology to solve the design location problem in a steampunk way was conceived. A Wi-Fi enabled camera with two-way communication was incorporated in the kitchen of the restaurant. Using this technology and an interactive iPad mini, guests will be able to interface with the chef and his team. A pocket projector, wrapped in a Victorian machine created by Bruce, will project the live kitchen video feed onto the adjacent wall. Guests will be able to observe and hear the chef in the kitchen preparing their dish as well as be able to ask questions.

Artist Skunk, of Skunkadelia robot orphanage, raygun outfitter, and used rocket sales, loaned the team some of his creations constructed of repurposed steel to compliment the theme; a pair of ray guns and a 43” tall robot named Hathor.

NELSON Designs the Ultimate Dining Experience 2015

Timerline Construction supplied and installed a 1920s German light bulb vintage tester pendant, the NELSON Team topped off the MAST’ steampunk dining with Victorian inspired table settings provided by TriMark United East.

Antonino Donato AIA, NCARB, LEED AP is the Hospitality Practice Area Leader for NELSON, a global architecture, interior design, engineering, and consulting services firm. Donato has more than 25 years of professional experience, is a registered architect in multiple states and a member of numerous architectural lodging and hospitality associations.