your image is pretty darn close to mine. comfy, smallish, red brick and cool art. i'd like a small stage to have live acoustic stuff and maybe the odd open stage poetry reading.

vegetarian. but not typical vegetarian. beautiful food. prove to all you carnivores that veggie can be done right. fire-baked, hand-thrown pizzas, gourmet cheese fondues, freshest of breads (i worked as a baker at nights for years while i was in school all day and with my band on weekends. learned gourmet baking techniques.

Oh man your totally asking me about one of my secret fantasies. For years now I have daydreamed about owning a cute little coffee/tea shop. Decorated in cutesy, grandma style furniture with quilts and stuffed animals strewn about.

A shelf of cool books in one corner, with adult coloring books and other crafty items in the lobby. We would serve a variety of treats, including sugar-free, gluten free, and vegan.

We would have the best damn coffee and tea in town. It would bring all the boys to the yard.

Oh yes!!! Live music on special nights would be perfect!!!
And lots of vegan/vegetarian options of course!!
That's also a good idea to have some good books laying around... So if people come to eat or have a drink by themselves (which I do sometimes) there's something there to read!
Love it!!

I would definatly want to own a restaurant like the one I worked at in Chicago. Hamburger Marys. Lound fun musci playing all of the time with singing watiresses and waiters who do tricks, Show tunes, drag queens and an upstairs with a bar and stage for shows. Oh to be a singing waitress again!

I'm with you dogs... Italian for sure, quaint and everything homemade... from baking bread to whipping butter and of course homemade pasta. The seating would surround a huge central fireplace

I always thought it would be fun to have a Hot Dog Cart!! Meet lots of people, low overhead....find your own "special" corner!
Yeah, that's what I want to do!!

I could call it Dobie Dogs.

I get to fulfill my restaurant fantasy via my son-in-law. He and my daughter opened a little place (28 seats) in a very nice neighborhood in September. I'm an investor and decorator.

The space is in an old building with the front door (an actual door -- not some crazy push thing) in the middle and bay windows on either side with tables for 2. There is a 8-seat bar and the little kitchen is visible. It has vintage hardwood floors, wallpaper and even pillows -- not themey but comfy.

The cuisine is amazing -- avant garde New American -- and the concept is shared plates. The dishes are snout to tail or fresh off the dock, field to table and visually stunning -- in addition to an orgasm for the palette.

One thing about the restaurant business -- she's a demanding mistress. They are finding it nearly impossible to "get away."

Here's MY restaurant concept:

I'd love to do a family-style restaurant in an old Victorian or Craftsman-style house in a college town -- one of those town's where the university and perhaps some agriculture are the only game in town.

Instead of the "food court" style dining offered at most universities, my place would have tables for 8, china, linens, etc. Not too fancy -- just the traditional family supper (roast beef, fried chicken, pork chops, starch, veggies, salad, rolls and dessert.) There'd be a dress code too -- no bedroom slippers, pajama bottoms, or sweatpants. There would be conversation starters at the tables to encourage dinner table conversation. Maybe someday!

I love that idea! I would also love a stand or maybe a food truck. As long as the ingredients are top quality I don't care too much!
BabyShelby, that's awesome that your son in law owns such an awesome restaurant!! I hope I can achieve something like that someday.
Big hugs to both of you!

A pub. Where the beer is fresh cold and quality. Where the glasses are frosted and its dimly lit.

Good food as well. "Pub grub" no diet specials! LOL

Carbs, meat, carbs, meat...and melted cheese...

A Pub & Cinema! With delucious vegetarian fare as well as standard pub fare and microbreweries' good stuff here in VT. Eat & drink while you sit in a lush chair with a table watching some of your favorite movies of all time!