Town Hall: A Community Gathering Spot
Chef Tom Gray and Sarah Marie Johnston transform a former lounge into a beautifully designed gathering spot in San Marco.
Restaurant Design for all Five Senses
Epicurean historians suggest it was Apicius, the 1st Century Roman gourmand, who coined the phrase, “We eat first with our eyes.” Wherever the idea originated, an enjoyable dining experience affects all five senses, and goes beyond the taste of the food. Even before walking through the door of a restaurant, one starts to eat visually. The building design and colors, outdoor seating, lighting, they all form an impression and can affect our opinion of the food.
“Restaurant interior design is all about building a strong brand,” said local designer Marsha Faulkner. “The design of the space should reflect the type of food being served. For instance, a family-style restaurant is not going to have the same type of space planning and seating as an intimate dining experience. The finished design should enhance the story that is told from the moment guests arrive.“
With that in mind, how does one design a restaurant based on a comic strip inspired by the Okefenokee Swamp? Kristen Biagini faced this question when the owner of Pogo’s Kitchen approached her company and asked them to turn an existing space on Amelia Island into a new eatery featuring Southern-inspired cuisine with coastal influences. The characters in the comic strip, written by Walt Kelly from 1948 to 1973, included Pogo the possum, Albert the alligator and other anthropomorphized animals. They frequently gathered in a kitchen sharing tales of daily life in the swamp, often with a political and social satire slant. Capturing a feeling that everyone is welcome around the table was at the heart of what the owners at Pogo’s wanted to convey.
“We weren’t familiar with Pogo, so we were not really sure what the comic was all about,” Biagini said. She and her team researched both the comic strip as well as elements found in a swamp. Different from a marsh, which is defined as having no woody plants, a swamp is an area covered in water where the vegetation is primarily woody plants or trees, such as mangroves or cypress.
Armed with that information, Biagini designed the interior taking their research into consideration, layering textures of natural materials to create a setting that is both exotic and reflective of what is observed in nature. In addition, the team needed to ensure the materials used would soften acoustics in the dining room, a challenge often faced by restaurateurs.
“We went bit by bit, layering the wood, natural tiles, concrete, the clay bricks and the photos, to find a balance of the materials to enhance the diner’s experience,” Biagini said. “The layering also helped to soften the volume. We installed insulation in the ceiling and used fabrics on the seating and window treatments to bring sound levels down.”
The wood used for the ceiling provides the sensation of standing on the ground under a canopy of trees found in swamps, while the wallpaper represents the sediment. The earthy tones used throughout the restaurant and the original photography taken in the Okefenokee add to the authenticity of the experience.
Creating a certain feel in a restaurant using textures is one way restaurants create a sense of place that helps them build a consistent clientele. “Frequent diners, especially women, are drawn to spaces that entice you with things to touch,” Faulkner said. “It’s an unconscious reaction but the result is guests that come back again and again.”
The design at Pogo’s reflects a different perspective on coastal life, as does the menu. Sourcing from local farms when possible, Chef Alan Heckman melds a variety of different regions and cultures for the dining program. “We mapped it out to go a little global, reflecting some of the African, Creole and Cajun influences on our coastal flavors.” And, to no surprise, the chef also serves a variety of alligator dishes.
Details such as glasses, lighting, even the wood used for storage were designed to mimic the experience of being in nature — to feed all five senses. “We want guests to be comfortable, enjoy the food and their dining companions,” Biagini said.
With design that reinforces the whimsy and magic of coastal swamp living, in a space for gathering that’s true to its roots, it’s safe to say Pogo and all his pals would probably feel right at home, sharing lunch, dinner and conversation at this Amelia Island eatery.
Open for lunch, dinner and brunch, Pogo's Kitchen is located at 1408 Lewis Street, Fernandina Beach.
FOOD & DESIGN
Town Hall: A Community Gathering Spot
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