Matching spherical light fixtures in a row of three sit above a wooden wall bench opposite a row of wood bistro tables and matching chairs. .jpg

It had been 20 years since Justa Pasta’s last remodel. The restaurant was dated and the layout hid the order counter and made this counter service restaurant hard to access. But the Italian eatery had good bones - high ceilings, an open kitchen, gorgeous natural light, and most importantly, delicious handmade pasta. The toughest aspect of this remodel was the timeline - 3 weeks. To keep to the tight schedule, Casework left all of the major components in the same place, including the order counter, kitchen, and restrooms.

A woman stands at a restaurant counter and pours wine into a glass near a shelf with books, bags of flour, salt, bread loaves, and cans of tomatoes.

OUR PROCESS

To make the ordering process as intuitive as possible, Casework took out the wine shelf that previously stood in the middle of the entrance. Instead of guiding the customers to the order counter, this shelf caused confusion, as it was the first thing you saw as you entered the building.

Two tables sit at the corner of a room under a window. One of them holds a bottle of wine, a half-full wine glass, and a small vase with fresh flowers.

Keywords

PIazza

pasta

familiar

A wide shot of an Italian restaurant showing part of the kitchen in the back corner, a wall bench, wooden tables, and matching bistro chairs.

RETAIL

The wine shelf was pushed back into the wall, completely opening the area. A large island was custom designed to fit the space, house retail products and be a natural barrier for customers waiting in line to order.

Several bottles of assorted wine sit on shelves of metal and wood that fit into a wall recess next to a colorful menu board under sconce lighting.

A row of square wood tables with leather high back dining chairs sit in a dining space with two framed wall mirrors above a wall-to-wall bench.

FOR THE LOCALS

It was important for this remodel to still hold a familiarity for the many regulars who frequent the restaurant. The changes made in the space were refining, but the space is still approachable. Warmth is brought to the restaurant by using industrial mixed metal finishes of copper and black and white oak wood details.

A closeup shot of a wooden table holding two plates of mussels and a heaped green salad, with a glass of white and a glass of red wine in the background. .jpg

A small bar area with a potted plant resting on its counter above a row of four metal bar stools, with hooks on the underside of the bar counter. .jpg

STYLES

The blue-gray tile was added to the order counter to balance the warmth and bring in some color to the minimal palette. Overall, Casework wanted to create a space that complemented the food and was a beautiful backdrop for Justa Pasta’s patrons to enjoy the delicious food.