It is hard to imagine that it has been a year since most of us have been able to experience a normal night out to share a meal with friends, colleagues, or someone special. Across the country, restaurants that were able to survive have begun opening for in-house dining but there is something about being outside or surrounded by plexiglass that is not the same. It’s a good thing that we rise from the pandemic even more cautious of good hygiene especially in food services. But it is another when we think about the ambiance and experience that we hope to have when visiting our favorite restaurant. The big question for restaurant owners, architects and designers is how to create a space that delivers a great experience without sacrificing safety for people. Technology will play a big role in tomorrow’s eateries. The world relies more and more on smart devices to do work for us and it seems that everything can be controlled in the palm of your hands. Thanks to Masahiro Hara (credited for inventing QR codes), digital menus are already a thing and paired with digital payment systems, these technologies will further facilitate a touchless ecosystem throughout the industry. That’s especially good for those establishments that have adapted to curbside pickup and partnered with third party delivery services. But what about the experience during a dine-in meal? Technology will play a part in that too but designing a space that can function with technology is critical in making that a reality. There is no common blueprint but moving forward, it will be a matter of making people feel safe and that will start with designing in flexibility. Both outside and inside dining should start with flexible seating and tables that allow for easy reconfigurations to accommodate variations in party size while providing more privacy and separation between groups to raise their level of comfort. New furniture designs will be essential in creating an ambiance that speaks to the quality of the restaurant which comes down to selecting appropriate materials and tastefully integrating dividers that will make the plexiglass sneeze guards a thing of the past. The new normal will be one of more intimacy, privacy and security that can be created with more modular furniture that can easily be reconfigured. Adding convenience can be done by designing in a new hardware solutions that can transform a table for example. From complex dual axis torque hinges and soft closing folding brackets that allow tables to change in purpose to standoffs and panel mounting systems that can tastefully protect patrons, exploring available products during the design phase is recommended. Even for products as simple as undermount hooks should be researched to provide a safe way to store a purse or bag without having to sacrifice form for function.