The Best Restaurant Designers and Architects in Dallas

Last updated on October 9th, 2024 at 09:11 am

Creating the perfect restaurant ambiance in Dallas, Texas, begins with selecting the right designer and architect. These professionals translate a client’s vision, brand identity, and target audience into a cohesive and functional design concept. The stakes are high, with average project costs ranging from $200,000 to $1,400,000 and reaching up to $1,950,000. The average price per square foot is $75.36, reflecting the significant investment required to bring innovative and visually appealing restaurant interiors to life.

Dallas, a city with a population of 1.3 million and a median home value of $479,000, is a thriving hub for the restaurant industry. According to recent permit data, 1,148 restaurant projects have been undertaken in the past two years, showcasing the city’s dynamic culinary landscape. With 54 relevant contractors available, finding the right one is crucial to ensuring your restaurant’s design meets and exceeds expectations, capturing your brand’s essence, and appealing to your target customers.

This article will highlight some of the best restaurant designers and architects in Dallas, TX. These professionals have earned their reputation through their innovative designs and ability to understand and execute their clients’ visions. Whether you’re planning a cozy café or an upscale dining establishment, these experts are equipped to deliver outstanding results, ensuring your restaurant stands out in the competitive Dallas market.

Overview: The Best Restaurant Designers and Architects in Dallas

See Ranking Methodology at the bottom of this article to learn more. 

Omniplan

1845 Woodall Rodgers Fwy, Suite #1600, Dallas, TX 75201

Omniplan’s history dates back to 1956. The firm uses a highly hands-on and collaborative approach, which has resulted in responsive spaces. This allows for minimal revisions throughout the entire process. The firm has multiple LEED Accredited professionals on its team, in addition to LEED Green Associates. This assures the firm’s clients of its projects’ high efficiency and sustainability. Among the top commercial architects in Dallas, it was honored with the 2022 AIA Dallas Built Design Awards – Honor Award. One of the firm’s best works, labeled in its portfolio as “The Henry,” this project was designed and completed in the heart of Dallas. It spans over 15,664 square feet and serves as this neighborhood bistro brand’s third and biggest location. The spans are custom-designed and built to accommodate a full-service coffee bar, two full bars, an indoor dining room, three outdoor patios, a private dining room, and an expo kitchen.

GFF

2808 Fairmount St. Suite 300, Dallas, TX 75201

GFF is an award-winning multidisciplinary design firm passionate about creating memorable places. Today, its 140-person staff offers architecture, interiors, planning, and landscape architecture throughout the US. Over the years, GFF has had successful engagements spanning various building types and experience with corporate, real estate, and institutional clients. In recent years, GFF has received awards and rankings that include the Texas Society of Architects 2019 Architecture Firm Award, ARCHITECT 50 (#1 US firm for business, 2013), Engineering News-Record magazine’s Top 500 Design Firms, Top 100 Green Design Firms, and Top Texas Design Firms. It was also recognized as one of the Best Places to Work by the Dallas Business Journal in 2014 and 2015 and listed as a GIANTS 300 Top Architectural Firm by Building Design and Construction magazine. Hailed as one of the leading Dallas architect firms, it was also awarded the Texas Society of Architects Architecture Firm Award from Texas Architect Magazine. The showcased project depicts the firm’s work on Heim BBQ in Dallas, which sits on the site of the recently demolished Love Field Inn and provides airport workers, travelers, and hotel guests with a new place to eat. The firm’s team drew inspiration from the client’s fascination with pre-engineered metal building structures.

Merriman Anderson Architects

300 N. Field St. Dallas, TX 75202

Merriman Anderson Architects offers a complete and comprehensive range of architectural services. The firm is highly regarded for its LEED and WELL accreditations, which assure its clients that each space is responsive and environmentally friendly. A preferred pick among the many commercial architects in Dallas, it received the IDA Honorable Mention Award. Eater Dallas voted this project as Dallas’ most gorgeous restaurant of the year. It was designed for Fine China at The Statler in downtown Dallas. The restaurant features an elegant mid-century modern design, with distinctive elements including dark green velvet booths with colorful floral wallpaper, a dark wood bar, and a wall with hanging tea cups.

REES

1025 North Stemmons Fwy, Suite #737, Dallas, TX 75207

REES has offices in Houston, Dallas, and Oklahoma City. It is experienced in every aspect of the architectural process and has worked on various impressive designs and vernaculars. The firm is the product of the vision and leadership of its CEO, Allan Parr. Like the entirety of the firm, he has experience in virtually all aspects of real estate and facility management operations. Leading one of the top architects in Dallas, TX, he assures each of the firm’s clients and projects that they will benefit from this extensive experience. REES’s project is named Home Plate. It can accommodate up to 150 patrons and features wall-to-wall televisions, a horseshoe-shaped bar top, and a large sectional overhead door. Other great details include its patio area and Spanish Cedar details.

Plan B Group

3710 Commerce St. Dallas, TX 75226

Plan B Group primarily works on commercial structures, particularly restaurants. Since its establishment, it has worked on countless brand makeovers, brand regeneration, and the creation of all-new brands from scratch. For the Pie Tap, Plan B Group opted for natural and simple elements, achieving this through an open kitchen and bar. This project’s scope included its overall architecture, interior design, space planning, and construction management.

Archiphy, PLLC.

18170 N. Dallas Pkwy, Suite #101, Dallas, TX 75287

Archiphy extends its services throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth area. The firm provides its clients with complete architectural services and commits itself to the highest design and technical standards. It can work on any project regardless of scale or complexity and is knowledgeable in various construction types. These include renovations, finish-outs, facilities planning, and new construction. It is also regarded for its tailor-fit solutions that ensure each method is suitable for the unique needs of each project it manages. Archiphy, PLLC’s project features the firm’s work for Up on Knox, a restaurant on the corner of Henderson and Knox. Its design features elegant components like lighting sconces, herringbone wood tile floors, and an old-fashioned revolving door. Other great details include its dining room and cocktail bar.

The Beck Group

1601 Elm St. Suite #2800, Dallas, TX 75201

With over a hundred years of industry experience, The Beck Group is one of the oldest firms on this list. The firm is also highly regarded for its sustainability efforts, assuring clients that all its spaces are highly efficient and environmentally friendly. It tailors its methods to better accommodate each project it takes on. Additionally, it has received impressive rankings through the years. In 2021, Deloitte Private and The Wall Street Journal named it the Best Managed Company in the country. One of the renowned architects in Dallas, TX, it is also among the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area’s Top Workplaces. Located in Houston, the chosen project showcases the company’s work on the Galleria Commons renovation. For this, it collaborated with the professionals at JPRA Architects, served as this space’s architect of record, and oversaw construction. This two-phased project included 142,100 square feet of interior renovation to update floor, wall, and ceiling finishes, in addition to accent lighting and chandeliers throughout its common areas.

Coeval Studio

2005 Farrington St. Dallas, TX 75207

Coeval Studio is a multidisciplinary design studio that has worked locally and abroad. It has two locations in Dallas and Miami and provides a comprehensive list of services. The firm is also highly regarded for its storefront renovations and accurate virtual reality renders, which allow for little to almost no revisions throughout the entire process. Coeval Studio’s project, which spans around 4,000 square feet, was completed in 2016. It was designed for Stirr, an upscale restaurant in Dallas. The firm preserved the interiors of the Deep Ellum and incorporated various modern finishes and industrial fixtures.

MSC Design, LLC.

10935 Estate Ln. Suite #300, Dallas, TX 75238

MSC Design extends its services throughout Dallas and the surrounding areas. Since its establishment, it has garnered a superb reputation for its restaurants and interior design. Although a relatively small firm compared to other firms on this list, this works to the firm’s advantage, as its dedicated staff ensures that all of its projects receive the utmost attention. All of MSC Design, LLC.’s work is completed on time and within the agreed-upon budget. It is also known for its masterful incorporation of materials, colors, lighting, and furnishings to create powerful brand expressions. Its team oversees every aspect of the entire process, from inception to completion.

Keller Studio, Inc.

1263 W. Rosedale St. Suite #101, Fort Worth, TX 76104

Keller Studio is the brainchild of its owner and founder, Andy Keller. He is an award-winning architect with over three decades of experience in and around the industry. He has designed countless projects throughout Virginia, Washington DC, Cincinnati, New York, and Dallas. Before establishing the firm, he gained experience working as a project manager at David Schwarz Architects for over a decade. He leads the studio with notoriety for being one of the leading commercial architects in Dallas. Keller Studio, Inc.’s project is a great example of the firm’s talent and expertise. Designed back in 2009, one of their notable projects features the firm’s work for Zooty Fruity. For this, the firm’s team concept and intention were for a restaurant that would appeal best to its patrons: kids, hence the use of color palettes and uniquely shaped fixtures.

Arcadis

Republic Center, 1717 Pacific Ave, Dallas, TX 75201

Arcadis, formerly known as CallisonRTKL, is a globally recognized firm with several offices and operations in Mexico, the United Kingdom, and China. The firm provides a comprehensive range of architectural services. One of the top Dallas architect firms, the studio has been featured in Architect Magazine. Located in Fort Worth, one of their notable project the firm’s work at the Food Hall at Crockett Row. Designed in collaboration with Hospitality Alliance, this project houses best-in-class, local, fast-casual food vendors in mini restaurant spaces. Its team was tasked with working on various flexible stalls, large family-style tables, a coffee bar, and outdoor seating.

Droese Raney

2120 Sylvan Ave, Dallas, TX 75208

Droese Raney is a full-service architecture and interior design studio. The firm is the product of its principals, David Droese and Lance Raney. They draw inspiration from 50 years of combined design and architecture experience. Under their supervision, the firm has been featured in various publications, including Forbes, AIA Dallas, and D Magazine. The studio is one of the most preferred Dallas architect firms. Droese Raney’s project is perhaps one of the best restaurants in the firm’s portfolio. Located in downtown Dallas, this project spans around 4,500 square feet. Designed for the Toussaint Brasserie at Saint Elm Hotel, this project showcases an opulent theme reminiscent of the 1920s.

Ranking Methodology

To evaluate the performance of contractors, our methodology employs a systematic approach that considers various factors contributing to customer experience and satisfaction. We focused on assessing the restaurant designers and architects in the Dallas area. The methodology involves assigning weightings to specific categories based on their significance in determining customer service quality. Here’s the breakdown of the categories and their respective weightings:

• Average Customer Satisfaction (35%): This metric represents the average rating given by customers across the same review platforms as the Average Customer Satisfaction Score. A higher average rating indicates greater overall satisfaction with the service provided.
• Service Rating Score (25%): We analyze the ratio of high (4-5 stars) to low (1-2 stars) ratings for each business across multiple review platforms: Google, Houzz, and Yelp. A higher percentage of positive reviews contributes to a higher score, reflecting better customer satisfaction.
• Complaint Percentage (25%): We analyze the ratio of complaints to total reviews for each business. A lower complaints ratio indicates better service quality and results in a higher score.
• Business Hours and Availability (10%): The operating hours of each business are assessed to gauge accessibility. Companies with extended operating hours are awarded a higher score, as they offer greater convenience to customers.
• License Status (5%): We verify the licensing status of each contractor with their local licensing board to ensure legal compliance. Companies with valid licenses receive a higher score, reflecting professionalism and adherence to regulations.
• Total Score: We determined the overall rating for every contractor by calculating a weighted average, with the category weight determining the amount the subscore contributed to the total score 

Additional Note: Service Rating Score, Average Customer Satisfaction, and Complaint Percentage are calculated with a Bayesian estimate to account for if the contractor has a low number of total reviews. A Bayesian average is a statistical method used to calculate the average of a set of data points while taking into account prior information or beliefs about the distribution of the data. It combines the observed data with a prior distribution to generate a more accurate estimate of the true average.