The Best Restaurant Designers and Architects in Dallas

Regarded as a modern metropolis in North Texas, Dallas serves as the state’s commercial and cultural hub. It is known for its great art districts, and museums, and for commemorating the site of President John F. Kennedy’s assassination. This list showcases 15 of Dallas’ best and leading restaurant architects behind some of its most recognizable structures and eateries. These companies were chosen based on their experiences, countless accolades, and diverse backgrounds. Additionally, several of these architects worked with multiple recognizable restaurants in Dallas and some of the best local brands.

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CallisonRTKL

Republic Center, 1717 Pacific Ave. Dallas, TX 75201

CallisonRTKL is a globally recognized firm that works in several offices out in California, Texas, Florida, and New York. It also has operations in Mexico, the United Kingdom, and China. The firm provides a comprehensive range of architectural services. This encompasses brand building, commercial interiors, landscaping, and master planning. Its portfolio depicts an impressive gallery of various commercial headquarters, healthcare, hospitality, mixed-use, office, retail, cultural, academic, and government spaces. The chosen project above is one of the firm’s best projects.

Located in Fort Worth, this photo showcases the firm’s work on the Food Hall at Crockett Row. They were 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.

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Omniplan

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

Omniplan’s history dates all the way 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. Showcased above is 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 the third and biggest location of this neighborhood bistro brand. 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.

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Beck Architecture

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

With over a hundred years of industry experience, Beck Architecture is one of the oldest firms on this list. It has worked across the United States and specializes in architecture and construction. The firm is also highly regarded for its sustainability efforts, assuring clients that all of its spaces are highly efficient and environmentally friendly. It tailor fits its methods to better accommodate each project that it takes on. Additionally, it has received impressive rankings through the years. In 2021, it was named the Best Managed Company in the country by Deloitte Private and The Wall Street Journal.

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 and 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 finishes, wall and ceiling finishes, in addition to accent lighting and chandeliers throughout its common areas.

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GFF

2808 Fairmount St. Suite 300, Dallas, TX 75201

GFF is an award-winning multidisciplinary design firm based in Dallas, Fort Worth and Austin with a passion for creating memorable places. Today their staff of 140 offers architecture, interiors, planning and landscape architecture throughout the US. Over the years, GFF has had successful engagements spanning a broad range of 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, 2014 and 2015 Best Places to Work by the Dallas Business Journal and GIANTS 300 Top Architectural Firms by Building Design and Construction magazine.

The showcased project depicts the firm’s work on Heim BBQ in Dallas. It sits on the site of the recently demolished Love Field Inn and provides airport workers, travelers, and hotel guests an all-new place to eat. For this, the firm’s team drew inspiration from the client’s fascination with pre-engineered metal building structures.

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Merriman Anderson Architects

300 N. Field St. Dallas, TX, 75202

Founded in 1987, Merriman Anderson Architects offers a complete and comprehensive range of architectural services. These encompass programming, space planning, facility move coordination, master planning, and interior design, on top of architecture and process management. The firm is also highly regarded for its LEED and WELL accreditations, which assure the firm’s clients that each of its spaces is responsive and environmentally friendly. Depicted above is one of the firm’s best works.

Voted as Dallas’ most gorgeous restaurant of the year by Eater Dallas, this project was designed for Fine China at The Statler in downtown Dallas. It features an elegant mid-century modern design, with some of its most distinctive elements including dark green velvet booths with colorful, floral wallpaper, a dark wood bar, and a wall with hanging tea cups.

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Coeval Studio

2005 Farrington St. Dallas TX, 75207

Coeval Studio is a multidisciplinary design studio that has worked both locally and abroad. It has two locations in Dallas and Miami and provides a comprehensive list of services. These include interior design, architecture, brand development, as well as landscape design, and construction documentation. The firm is also highly regarded for its storefront renovations, in addition to its use of accurate virtual reality renders. This allows for little to almost no revisions throughout the entire process. The chosen project above is one of our favorites from its portfolio.

Designed for Stirr, an upscale restaurant in Dallas, this project was completed back in 2016. It spans around 4,000 square feet. For this, the firm’s team preserved its Deep Ellum interiors and incorporated various modern finishes and industrial fixtures.

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ID Studio 4, LLC.

6201 Campus Circle Dr. E, Irving, TX 75063

Regarded as among the area’s best premier architectural houses, ID Studio 4 is a full-integrated architecture and engineering company. It stands among the country’s leading professionals in the restaurant and retail markets. It draws inspiration from 35 years of industry experience and provides excellent design, MEP engineering, structural engineering, and development services. The firm’s team also assists with construction administration. Its work can best be appreciated in the photo above.

Named in D Magazine as one of 2015’s top 10 best new Dallas restaurants, this project entailed working on the remodel of a prior existing 20-year-old structure. It spans over 7,000 square feet. Some of its most impressive elements include an exhibition-style kitchen and exterior patio design. Over the years, the team has completed multiple restaurant projects for names including Taco Bell, Sullivan’s Steakhouse, Chili’s, Ida Claire, and Del Frisco’s Grille among many others. Featured is one of the firm’s notable restaurant designs for The Ranch at Las Colinas. This project comprises the enclosed patio remodeling and the addition of two exterior patios totaling over 7,000 square feet of new space. ID Studio’s team was able to create a design that embodies traditional Texas elements creating a warm and inviting space to accompany the restaurant’s great food selection.

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REES

1025 North Stemmons Fway. Suite #737, Dallas, TX 75207

REES has offices in Houston and Dallas, as well as Oklahoma City. It is experienced in every aspect of the architectural process and has worked on a variety of 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. This encompasses the areas of architectural design, interior design, engineering management, workplace standards development, real estate strategy, occupancy planning, ADA compliance, and mission-critical facility management. He assures each of the firm’s clients and projects receives the benefit of this extensive experience.

The chosen project is named the Home Plate. It can house up to 150 patrons and features wall-to-wall televisions, a horseshoe-shaped bar top, and a large sectional overhead door. Some other great details and features include its patio area and Spanish Cedar details.

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Plan B Group

3710 Commerce St. Dallas, TX 75226

The Plan B Group primarily commercial structures, particularly restaurants. In addition to its impressive designs and stellar floor plans, it is also highly regarded for its excellent restaurant branding packages. These include interior design, graphic design, brand identity, menu development, and restaurant operations consultation. Since its establishment, it has worked on countless brand makeovers, brand regeneration, as well as the creation of all-new brands from scratch. The chosen project above is one of its best works.

For the Pie Tap, the firm’s team opted for natural and simple elements. It achieved this through an open kitchen and bar. The scope of this project included its overall architecture, interior design, space planning, and construction management.

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Droese Raney

2120 Sylvan Ave. Dallas, TX 75208

Droese Raney is a full-service architecture and interior design studio. It specializes in the design of commercial, hospitality, and retail projects and has worked all across the United States. The firm has been in business since 1998 and is the product of its principals, David Droese and Lance Raney. Together, they draw inspiration from 50 years of combined design and architecture experience. Under their supervision, the firm has been featured in a variety of publications, including Forbes, AIA Dallas, and D Magazine.

The depicted 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.

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MSC Design, LLC.

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

MSC Design extends its services throughout Dallas and the areas surrounding it. Since its establishment, it has garnered a superb reputation for its restaurants, as well as its interior design. Although a relatively small firm as 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 amount of their attention. Aside from its restaurants, the firm is also known for its retail, hospitality, health and wellness, and both single and multifamily residential projects.

All of the firm’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.

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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 working in and around the industry. He has designed countless projects throughout Virginia, Washington DC, Cincinnati, New York, and Dallas. Prior to establishing the firm, he first gained experience working as a project manager at David Schwarz Architects for the better part of a decade. His background also encompasses residential, entertainment, corporate, hospitality, and healthcare design.

The chosen project above is a great example of the firm’s talent and expertise. Designed back in 2009, this photo features the firm’s work for Zooty Fruity. For this, the firm’s team concept and the intention were for a restaurant that would appeal best to its patrons: kids, hence the use of color palettes and uniquely shaped fixtures.

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Archiphy, PLLC.

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

Archiphy extends its services throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth area. It specializes in retail, office, multifamily, and restaurants. The firm provides its clients with a complete range of 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 a wide variety of construction types. These include renovations, finish-outs, facilities planning, and new construction. It is also regarded for its tailor-fit solutions that ensure each of its methods is suitable for the unique needs of each project that it manages.

The showcased project features the firm’s work for Up on Knox, a restaurant located on the corner of Henderson and Knox. Its design features elegant design components like lighting sconces, herringbone wood tile floors, and an old-fashioned revolving door. Some other great details include its dining room and cocktail bar.

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OFFICIAL, LLC.

1031 Erin Dr. Dallas, TX 75218

OFFICIAL is an award-winning architecture, interiors, and furniture design studio. Operating out of its office in Dallas, the firm is led by its principals Amy Wynne Leveno and Mark Leveno. It has been designing since 1998 and started working together back in 2005, before finally establishing OFFICIAL in 2012. Since then, the firm has earned numerous design awards, has been featured on the AIA Dallas Tour of Homes, and has been published nationally and internationally in books and magazines. Aside from its restaurants, its portfolio also showcases an impressive gallery of large and small residential, multi-family, retail, office interiors, and warehouses.

The chosen project features the firm’s work for Houndstooth Coffee. Located in Dallas, this is the newest location of the brand. For this branch, there is a separate cocktail bar. The finish materials are a combination of white oak, walnut, Spanish cedar, raw and painted steel, perforated steel, and quartz.

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MnKhan Architects

219 Brittany Dr. Coppell, TX 75219

MnKhan Architects is a minority-owned practice that extends its services throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth area. It is a full-service architecture and interior design firm. The firm also provides excellent LEED consultancy services and works as a City of Dallas Third-Party Green Code Reviewer. The firm’s portfolio showcases a stellar range of athletic, retail, residential, mixed-use, restaurant, and hospitality spaces. Featured above is one of our editorial team’s favorites from its portfolio.

Located in Las Colinas, this project was designed for the Kitchen of Kuchipudi. For this, the firm was hired to work on authentic home-style cooking in the South Indian State of Telugu. Its spaces are configured to have different seating arrangements and moods for a blend of traditional Indian space with contemporary touches. There is also a stone wall with alcoves dedicated to Hindu deities and a full-service bar.