The space we have made is designed to connect high quality food from top chefs to people who typically pay fair prices for a meal, and likely would not have had a chance to experience this type of food before. In turn, the benefit for the chefs that guest cook is that they can test out new recipes and deliver it to a large amount of people.
In terms of aesthetic, we want to make the space surrounding an idea of openness, reflected in the name. This means long communal tables, welcoming parties to sit together when it gets crowded, as well as large window pane doors that can be opened, leading out to a patio, filled with plants and more tables. The building has lots of wood as well as industrial features, such as the order counter and beams across the roof. The lighting is calm, with string lights throughout. While the location is based in a city, when you walk into Mess Hall, you should feel like you are escaping. It’s an experience to make you forget you are in the middle of the hustle bustle of city life.
Ordering will be placed at a counter that has the look of an old fashioned metal van, the menu being displayed on a chalk board. Customers will place their order and pay at the counter, receiving a number to be displayed on their table for their food to be delivered to them when ready. Portions will be almost appetizer sized, encouraging customers to try the entirety of the menu within their party. Ideally, we would not want to take reservations, as we would want the place to have a walk-in feel, and people can decide to go the night-of.
Guest chefs would typically make an appearance on weekends, but every so often weeknight low-profile service would be held. For the guests, the chef and food is always a surprise. This is the element that we pulled from the survey. We noted that it seemed people liked to enjoy food in environments where they typically don’t have them, which is why we have created the Mess Hall feel, with high quality food. On weekends, we will have live music and a wine tasting booth on the patio, creating a fun environment to spend a night out.
