1.0 INTRODUCTION.

This assignment was proposed to construct a new restaurant based on the basic
layout of either Mock restaurant or Meranti Grill located at Hotel and Tourism Faculty of
UiTM Shah Alam. For our group, we have select Meranti Grill as a basic location of our
project which is Alla Moda Italian restaurant. All of the editable fixtures of Meranti Grill
will be edited in order to develop our restaurant, but there would be also some limitation
due to the permanent fixtures of the building such as pillar and wall due to the technical
problem of wiring and plumbing.

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2.0 ALLA MODA ITALIAN RESTAURANT.

Alla Moda Italian restaurant is basically a semi-fine dining restaurant focusing on

the Italian cuisine. For our food, we are highlighting the home-made pasta which will be
shown through our open kitchen concept for the pasta making demonstration and also
live cooking. We are implying the modern and elegant concept to the restaurant as to give
the modern feel and lavish yet elegant style of furnishing, decorations and lighting
ambiance of the dining area.

2.0.1 ALLA MODA’S MISSION STATEMENT.

Alla Moda is a delightful contemporary restaurant, focused on the middle to high

income market niche in the developed area of Kuala Lumpur; we pledge to provide
scrumptious specialty-pasta and Italian food items and beverages; and to immerse our
guest in our Modern and Elegant themed décor, attentive service and pleasant yet friendly
environment.

2.1 FRONT OF THE HOUSE.

Front of the house indicates the service area of the restaurant. It includes all the
reception, dining and beverage area of the restaurant. In order to fulfill the expectation
towards the restaurant design, some adjustments had been made based on the original
layout of the Meranti grill. The adjustments will be described further in each section of
weekly evaluation.

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2.2 INTERIOR CONCEPT, THEME AND DESIGN.

It is basically different from the basic Meranti Grill which doesn’t have any
proper theme and only focuses on the formal and casual environment. The original
restaurant have majority of wood and colored glass wall in the service area, but in Alla
Moda restaurant, we had planned to have all brick walls with brown-colored wallpaper as
the finish as to gives proper tone and color towards our theme.

Figure 1: The Theme of Modern and Elegant

The main reason why we choose the modern and elegant style of theme is because
in today’s market, the disposable income of people is increasing. Thus, people nowadays
tend to seek the suitable restaurant environment to fulfill their own dining satisfaction.
Food and beverage may be one of the crucial values of the restaurant, but for most semi
and fine dining restaurant, theme and concept is the added value that contributes to
overall customers’ satisfaction. The elegant describes the lavishness and stylish concept
of the restaurant decorations and furnishing, while the modern-theme was described
through the usage of iPad as the tools to communicate with the diners. Moreover, the
design of the chair and lighting did contribute to overall modern style furnishing.

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2.3 INTERIOR SPATIAL LAYOUT.

The basic front of the house spatial layout of the Meranti Grill is approximately
818.838655ft² including the beverage section. Although there will be a slight change to
the layout in Alla Moda Italian restaurant, the area used for the open kitchen was replaced
with the walkway for the service staff to the stewarding area. Basically, the maximum
seating capacity for this restaurant was 40 pax, but, after deducting few area factors such
as the aisle, reception, beverage area and open kitchen, we only open for 30 pax at one
time. For us it is enough as the standard seating capacity for fine-dining or semi fine-
dining restaurant is 20ft² per customer.

Figure 2: Layout of Basic Meranti Grill

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Figure 3: Layout for Alla Moda Italian restaurant
 The first renovation made was on the beverage area. The changes made were by
changing the movable counter to the permanent fixture counter and it was built alongside
the permanent pillar. This was to conserve the space instead of using the pillar as one of
the fixture of counter instead of its non specific use. There will be a door leading towards
the kitchen in order to take the ice. But to minimize the flow, there will also be a counter
built-in stainless steel ice container for holding ice during operations.

Figure 4: Beverage area before. Figure 5: Beverage area after renovations.

The main entrance to the restaurant will also be relocated from the beverage area
to the other end opposite of the kitchen (refer to Figure 2). This change was made as to
comply with the other entrance of Hotel UiTM Shah Alam and to avoid congestion with
the flow of the hotel’s guest at reception and also for the customer for Hotel’s Coffee
house. Moreover, the entrance placements are more nearer to the guest parking area, thus
easy for them to get to the restaurant and their vehicle.

Figure 6: The main entrance to Meranti

Figure 7: The main Grill
entrance to Alla Moda
Italian restaurant

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2.4 FURNISHING AND EQUIPMENT LAYOUT.

For the furnishing and equipment of front of the house there would be major
changes for the dining tables and chairs. The overall furnishing will also be changed
according to our restaurant themes and styles.

Instead of using basic tables and chair, we are going to have Zigo chair and
Mahogany modern wood table. The Zigo chair represents the modern style of chair,
enhance with two tones color of cream and brown will surely highlight the elegant
concept when illuminated with our lights.

Figure 8: Standard wooden chair Figure 9: Zigo chair and Mahogany

and table modern dining table.

In order to show the modern side of our restaurant, we will have an iPad placed
on each table, functioned as a menu card, advertisement and also entertainment tools for
the customer. The iPad will link the system to the reception counter, and to kitchen area,
whereby all the order made are sent to the designated section. There will be two screen
monitors, one placed at the cold or appetizer section and the other was placed on the
pasta’s or main course section.

Figure 10: The traditional way of Figure 11: The iPad hightlights the
menu card. 6 concept of modern.
 As for the wall furnishing, we had replaced the wooden wall with colored glass
with brick wall finished with brown colored wallpaper. The reason we replace the wall is
because, the colored glass does not suit with Alla Moda restaurant theme and concept. If
the lighting were too bright, the reflection from the colored glass will result in colored
reflection which will produce multi-colored light effects. In Alla Moda restaurant, we
only focus on brown-themed color. Thus, by having brown-colored wallpaper and proper
lighting, the effect will result in somewhat elegant effect and lavishness. The windows
are also demolished from our new restaurant as it may also effect the reflection of light
from outside.

Figure 12: wall design; colored glass and

Figure 13: brown-colored
window
wallpaper

For our flooring of front of the house, we are replacing the standard carpet of
flooring of Meranti Grill with poplypropylene materials or also known as olefin fibre. It
is because polypropylene has solution dyed colours, good cover and bulk, abrasion
resistant, stain resistant, low static, resists fading and a favourably priced.

Figure 14: color selection of the

polypropylene carpet
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 There are two types decoration used in the Alla Moda Italian restaurant, which are
the abstract painting and also the spiced rack and bottled herb. We are choosing these
types of decorations as the abstract painting describes the modern and the way that it was
presented significantly shows the elegant style of painting. As for spice rack and bottled
herb, we include the Italian herbs that have been soaked in oiled solution. The glass
container of the herbs will result in some reflection when in contact with light from the
wall light, which will disperse golden-yellow shines towards the wall. This will add up
the effect of elegant in our restaurant.

Figure 15: The decorations of Alla Moda Italian restaurant, which is the abstract
painting and the spice rack.
The wall partition in Alla Moda restaurant acts as a barrier that separating the
customer’s dining
area with the
entrance. It also
functioned as a
decoration as there
is
decorative design
on the glass on
the partition.

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Figure 16: The wall partition.

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2.5 SPATIAL COLOR AND LIGHTING.

For spatial color for front of the house, Alla Moda Italian restaurant had chosen
the brown-toned color for the wall and the furnishing. It is slightly the same as the
original Meranti Grill, but instead of having the colored glass and brown-colored wooden
wall, we are having the brick wall and wallpaper instead. The color range of Alla Moda
restaurant is as shown below.

Figure 16: Color tones of Alla Moda Italian restaurant

As for the lighting for front of the house, we are implementing two types of
lighting which is down light and also wall light. The down light used are the standard as
the original Meranti Grill lights, the bulb used is to provide lighting that is acceptable to
illuminate the dining area. The wall light used is adjustable as to raise the mood and
ambiance of the restaurant. Instead, the wall light also functions as decorations and also
to reflect the lights to the wallpaper, which will produce two-toned wall color. In
addition, there will also a chandelier placed in the middle of the dining area. The
chandelier functions as a centerpiece of the restaurant and also as the lighting source for
the customer.

Figure 16: The three lighting components; from left, the chandelier,
down light10and wall light.
2.6 RENDERING COMPARISON OF THE MERANTI GRILL AND ALLA
MODA ITALIAN RESTAURANT.

Scene 1: View from the entrance.

BEFORE:

Figure 17: Scene 1: View from the entrance (before)

Figure 18: Scene 1: View from the entrance (after)

AFTER:

Scene 2: View from the reception area.

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BEFORE:

Figure 19: Scene 2: View from the reception area (before)

AFTER:

Scene 3: View Figure 20: Scene 2: View from the reception area (after)
from the left
side of
entrance.

BEFORE:

Figure 21: Scene 3: View from the

12 left side of entrance (before)
AFTER:

Figure 22: Scene 3: View from the left side of entrance (after)

Scene 4: View from the open kitchen area.

BEFORE:

AFTER:
Figure 23: Scene 4: View from the open kitchen area (before)
Figure 24: Scene 4: View from the open kitchen area (after)
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3.0 BACK OF THE HOUSE.

Back of the house indicates the food preparation area of the restaurant. It basically
consists of operations that have no direct contact with the customer. In order to fulfill the
requirement for the Alla Moda Italian restaurant, few adjustments had been done to the
kitchen. After all, the original kitchen layout for Meranti Grill is quite small, thus some
spaces had been adjusted for the open kitchen concept.

3.1 INTERIOR CONCEPT, THEME AND STYLES.

Alla Moda Restaurant is a semi-fine dining restaurant that focusing on the semi-
fine dining concept based on the modern and elegant style. Our restaurant is focusing on
our homemade pasta as well as pizza and the production area that can seen by customer
through the glass wall at the front of the kitchen. Besides of serving the pasta and pizza as
our speciality, we also provide other Italian menu such as bruschetta, alla griglia, and
some desserts.

By focusing on the modern and elegant style, we are practising the modern
ordering from customers which are fully operate by computer systems instead of relying
on the waiter and waitress to take the orders from customers. For this reason, we will
provide every table with the iPad. The order will go into the screen monitor at the kitchen
after the validation from captain. Then, the food will be prepared according to the order
in the screen.

Figure 25: Placement of monitor and iPad in the kitchen

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The original kitchen is quite small, so we decide to demolish the store and the partitions
that caused the limited space for the layout. For the newly arranged kitchen, we decide
implement the island concept as our main kitchen. It is due to that the kitchen can be used
for the both sides for the production.

Alla Moda restaurant also highlight the open kitchen concept which provide the
view of the kitchen through the glass wall. By using this concept, customers can see the
pasta and pizza making besides the production of the food. It is functioned so that the
customers will be more confident to dine at our restaurant after seen the cleanliness and
hygienic attributes of food preparation by our staff.

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3.2 INTERIOR SPATIAL LAYOUT.

In terms of the interior spatial layout for the back of the house, we can see that the
in original layout, the space of the kitchen is unpleasing as it looks so small and
congested. In order to make our kitchen to be more pleasing and more comfortable
working environment, we have decided that there must be few adjustments that need to
be made.

The first adjustment or modification that we made is to remove all the

unnecessary walls and partition so that it will become more spacious. As we can see in
the original layout, there were two partitions which limited the space available for any
equipment to be installed. In the end, we decided that the store also must be demolished
because it also makes the kitchen look small. We understand the restaurant cannot afford
to cater large amount of guest, but it doesn’t mean that the production area also must be
small. As we know, an unpleasant and uncomfortable working environment may cause
the production crew to be run in low productivity. After all of the walls and partitions and
a store was removed, we decided that it is best for us to construct a new wall glass and
bring the kitchen just a little bigger from its original state. We also made a decision to
inter-relating bar and kitchen together because these two areas are where the production
happens. Besides that, there is an opening on our wall glass which displays our kitchen,
where the food is being brought out to guest. In addition, we also made special pathway
for the service crew to clear their plate and crockery on the side of our kitchen.

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 Figure 26: Comparison of layout of back of the house.

Furthermore, the reason why we choose to have the open kitchen concept is to
expose and convey what we do in our kitchen and it suits with our original theme which
is to serving homemade pastas and pizzas delicacies. Our diners will be able to take a
peek of how their dishes being made, which also means that our production crew must be
high in discipline and concern most about food safety as well as hygiene, thus, the open
kitchen concept also use as a medium for us to train our staff.

Figure 27: The original kitchen. Figure 28: Open kitchen concept

Besides that, not forget to mention is our flooring. Instead of using the old school
marbled floor, we made a decision to install flooring called as resin flooring. Resin
flooring is a tough chemical resistant floor which is stronger compared than concrete.
Benefits of using this kind of flooring is that it is strong, which means that it have the
ability to disperse stress of load that need to be bear underneath the concrete. As we
know, few of the equipments used in kitchen are heavy duty and heavy in weight, thus, it
is suitable to use this kind of flooring. Besides that, other advantages of using resin floor
is that it is hygienic and low cost in maintenance. Resin flooring is a floor system which
is seamless, impermeable and easily cleaned that will not promote any bacterial growth.

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 Moreover, resin flooring system will be able to stand much more longer compared
to normal marbled flooring which also substantially reduces maintenance costs. Resin
flooring system is resistant to huge range of chemicals, which includes acids, alkalis,
solvents, oil and petrol. Other than that, because of its seamless and impermeable
properties, it will also prevent any chemical spillages attacking the concrete beneath.
Resin flooring systems are available in a wide range of colors, including quartz and flake
systems. Besides, they have slip-resistant properties in wet and greasy environments.

Figure 29: Resin-quartz flooring

After all the modification has been done, we can see that the production area is a
bit bigger and spacious from what it used to be. It will not also be a comfort place to
work, but we can also add few types of equipment that is necessary for our daily
production.

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3.3 EQUIPMENTS AND FURNISHING LAYOUT.

For the equipment and furnishing layout for back of the house, Alla Moda Italian
restaurant will be focusing on multi-purpose and modular equipment as the kitchen area
are a bit compact. Thus, most of the equipment will be changed according to the needs of
the productions.

3.3.1 Tabletop chiller.

Instead of using a working table, we prefer to use a tabletop chiller

because it has both functions which are for working table and also chiller at the
bottom. It is also used to minimize the space in the Meranti's kitchen by acting as
the chiller and also working table. For this purpose, we are choosing Fagor brand
because it has 3 years of warranty on part and labor service.

Figure 30: Fagor tabletop chiller

This equipment will be placed at the open kitchen which is near the glass
wall. The top of the table can be used for pasta and pizza making, while the chiller
can be used to store the mise en place ingredients and also pasta and pizza dough.
Furthermore, this equipment will be placed at the side and rear of the kitchen as
there are work station for main course, appetizer and dessert. The ingredient
stored in the chiller will be easy to reach as it was placed on every work station,

19
reducing their effort to stored and taking mise en place ingredients stored in the
chiller while they are cooking.

3. 1.2 Ice machine.

Ice machine will be placed at side of the kitchen but still close to the
entrance of bar. We decide to purchase this machine because Alla Moda
Restaurant require lot of ice in the cooking process such as for blanching process
of pastas and vegetables and also for the usage of beverage section. That is the
main reason why the ice machine was allocated at the centre of the kitchen. For
ice machine, we prefer to use Scotsman brand than the other brand because
besides of the warranty, every products of Scotsman ice machine have enerlogic
technology and have antimicrobial protection. By using this machine, it would
help to produces ice consistently and will also reduce the operating cost.

3. 1.3 Working table.

Although there is tabletop chiller, a kitchen still is considered to have a

proper working table because not all items are stored in the chiller. Some of the
items need to be placed in the room temperature. For examples canned food,
bottle of sauce and oil. That is the main reason why rack is placed below the
working table. Working table will be placed at every section as they have their
own dry items to store; it is to avoid issue about item mixed up from other
section. For the working table, we choose to have a Trinity brand because it has
the certification of NSA (National Sanitation Foundation) and were built for
safety by having a rounded edges and corners.

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 3.1.4 Freezer.

Freezer was used to storing any prepared and perishable items for later
thawing and production such as meat items. In the kitchen, we decide to allocate
this freezer at the rear of the kitchen as it only store freezes items. Some of mise
en place such as sliced beef carpaccio will be kept in the freezer, so it is the other
reason why it was placed near the appetizer and dessert section which is at the
back of the kitchen.

Figure 31: Location of the freezer (before) Figure 32: Location of the freezer (after)
We decide to use the Fagor brand same as the tabletop chiller because for
the freezer, their warranty also cover about prevention from the formation of
macrocrystals, and maintaining the organoleptic quality unchanged in term of
flavor, color, smell, vitamins, liquids, and also weight.

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22
 3.1.5 Stove.

At the island kitchen which is mainly to produce the main course such as
pasta, pizza, steak and others are allocated with two types of stove which are Six
(6) range stove with oven and Four (4) range stove with griller. Before this, the
stoves are located at the back of the kitchen and then we decide to have the island
concept for the kitchen layout, so most of the stove is allocated in the island
which is at the centre of the kitchen.

Figure 33: Placement of stove (before) Figure 34: Placement of stove (after)

Six (6) range stove with oven will be placed at the pasta and pizza section
while the four (4) range stove with griller are placed in front of pasta and pizza
section which is for grilled and pan fried section. This kind of equipments are
chosen based on its multifunctional characteristic, where in the equipment has
many sub components of equipments such as hot plate, oven, griller and
salamander. This will reduces the spaces requirement in the kitchen and really suit
for the small kitchen in our restaurant.

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Figure 35: 6 range stove with griller Figure 36: 4 range stove with oven

Both of this equipment is a Vulcan brand as the Vulcan is nominated the

"Best in Class" by industry professional. Vulcan Company also provides 1 year
manufacturer part and labor warranty.

3.1.6 Deep fryer.

The deep fryer was used for frying purpose and it is the proper and
efficient way to fry instead of using a pot on the stove. Furthermore, in term of
safety, this equipment was safer than frying in the pot. We are also prefers Vulcan
for the deep fryer brand as the same reason while choosing the stove brand.

3.1.7 Exhaust fan.

In the kitchen there must be have a exhaust fan for the proper ventilation
of hot air. It also avoid kitchen to be hot and humid. For this purpose, we
choosing the Wolf brand.

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3.1.8 Sink.

Sink is the vital-equipment for the water source. The other function of sink
is for use in preparation, production, cleaning and sanitation. In Alla Moda
kitchen, we decide to put the sink at every section of the kitchen except at the
pasta and pizza making section because those sections need the dry place.

Figure 37: The location of sink (in the red circle)

that allocated in the kitchen

3.1.9 Rack.

As for the working table, we decide to choose Trinity brand for the rack. It
is because; the Trinity brand is adjustable stainless steel bottom shelf and leg
levellers. The rack can be adjusted according to the height depends on the items
that will be placed on it. The placement of the rack is located near the pasta and
pizza section at the side of the kitchen as they have lot of dry items to store such
as dry pasta than other section in the kitchen.

3.1.10 Shelf.

Adding the shelf in the kitchen is the same purpose like a rack, to keep and
store the dry items. By using a Trinity brand, this shelf is located onto the working
table and tabletop chiller to help every dry item is reachable to the staff.

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3.1.11 Pasta boiler.

Pasta boiler is the equipment used to blanched pasta and other type of food
for examples vegetables and seafood. By using this, it will help to minimize the
numbers of pot that are used on the stove.

Figure 38: The Vulcan Pasta Boiler

This pasta boiler will be placed at the pasta and pizza making as they need
to blanch the pasta daily. It also will help the production and preparation of food
more proper and efficient.

31.12 Garbage bin.

In Alla Moda kitchen, there are two garbage bin for the purpose of
throwing waste and trash. One is for the dry waste and another is for the wet. Both
of the bins is allocated at the rear of the kitchen. Besides, we choose to have
paddle-open garbage bin, so that staff doesn't need to use their hand to open the
bin.

3.1.13 Plate warmer.

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 A semi-fine dining should serve hot food in the hot plate, as well as cold
food in the cold plate. We have decided to have a plate warmer in the kitchen, so
that the staff does not need to warm the plates under the salamander or oven
before plating. By having this machine, it will reduce the time in plating food as it
will eliminate the effort to heat the plate. Besides that it will also help the
preparation and production going smooth in the proper, safer and efficient way.
For this reason, we choose Alto-Shaam brand because it is quietly use in the
industry and most recommended.

Figure 39: Alto-Shaam Plate Warmer

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3.4 SPATIAL COLOR AND LIGHTING.

The color in the back of the house area will be divided into two, wall and floor.
Our production area’s wall will be white in color, and we use full tile up until the tip of
the ceiling. Our ceiling also will be white in color. The reason for why we are using both
white in color on wall and ceiling is because, any grease or residue appeared on it can be
easily detected. Moreover, by using tile in our kitchen’s wall, any grease that visible to
our eyes can be easily removed because tile is a material that can be easily clean. The
kitchen ceilings will all be a sound and fire resistant, there will be tiny holes on the
ceiling so that the sound and noise can be reduced.

Figure 40: Noise and fire resistant ceiling

As been mentioned before, a resin flooring systems will be use in our kitchen, and
we are using grayish color on it. Because of the resin’s flooring properties to easily be
clean, we have no issue on removing all the visible grease on it. The color we choose for
it is grey, which a not-so dark and light color, thus, any grease can be detected.

Equipments in our kitchen will mostly be finished by stainless steel which also
appears to be bright in color, and it is easy for the production crew to detect any grease
and clean it. Most of our equipments be light and bright in color, thus, there will be no
issue on cleaning and sanitizing.

Lighting, which can be considered to as important aspects in the production area

has been analyzed carefully by us. It is important to have a lighting that blends these
particular layers and aspects which are task, ambient, and decorative. Consider these
aspects, and then the end result will be a warm and inviting environment that works with
our design elements which create a practical workspace and lively area.

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 There are few types of lighting in our kitchen, which includes hanging light, wall
light and also an insect light trap where they all have different light emission and
purpose. The hanging light which will be installed in front of our open kitchen area will
be quite bright so that it will showcase clearly how our diners dishes, especially pastas
and pizzas been made. It is not a type of light that emit heat, just a light.

Figure 41: Hanging light in open kitchen area.

Besides that, there will be four, glass-covered fluorescent light that is placed
parallel to our kitchen. Each light functioning to brighten the entire kitchen, it is bright
and that is why we choose to place just four of them, but parallel to our kitchen so that
the emission of light will be more wider.

Figure 42: glass-covered fluorescent light

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 Last but not least is an insect light trap which will be place near the entrance door
of our kitchen.Insect and flying pest such as fly will approach the UV light and think that
it is the natural sunlight, thus, by installing the light trap in our kitchen, we can eliminate
any annoying infestations of these creatures.

Figure 43: Insect light trap

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3.5 RENDERING COMPARISON OF THE MERANTI GRILL AND ALLA
MODA ITALIAN RESTAURANT

Scene 1: View from the back of the kitchen

BEFORE:

Figure 44: Scene 1: View from the back of kitchen (before)

Figure 45: Scene 1: View from the back of kitchen (after)

AFTER:

Scene 2: View from the front of the kitchen.

BEFORE:

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Figure 46: Scene 2: View from the front of the kitchen (before)
AFTER:

Figure 47: Scene 2: View from the front of the kitchen (after)

32
4.0 CONCLUSION.

As a conclusion, Alla Moda Italian restaurant is a semi fine dining restaurant that
might have potential to be successful restaurant according to its concept and theme. It is
because, people nowadays tends to search for a total dining experience during dining
which includes overall satisfaction that was based on the food, service, ambiance, theme
and concept of a restaurant. Although there are many adjustments to be made compared
to the original layout, but the outcome might make it worthwhile.

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