Tony Roma’s ‘Polished Casual’ Interior and Exterior Design Sets Us Apart

Our stunning restaurant redesign offers flexible spaces that attract a broad spectrum of diners competitors can’t reach

Tony Roma’s new “polished casual” restaurant design stands out in the struggling casual dining markets and flexes to meet a variety of dining styles, from sports fans enjoying draft beer and apps on the patio to couples on date nights who prefer dining indoors at a booth. Our updated design has gotten rave reviews since debuting at our flagship International Drive Orlando location in 2016, and it is the blueprint for our expansion efforts.

Interior design firm Interplan LLC developed the new design, which has been featured in Restaurant Development + Design magazine. One of the most significant changes is a more open floor plan that is aesthetically pleasing, modern and elegant, as well as a more cost-effective, smaller footprint for investors. The exterior redesign and its contemporary new exterior signage and welcoming outdoor patio seating is eye-catching to passersby. A beautiful indoor/outdoor bar, stone fireplace and ample outdoor flat screen TVs are upgraded focal points that diners typically would find at an upscale hotel or resort, not your everyday casual sit-down eatery.

Our new design offers more flex space, with a blend of outdoor and indoor bar seating, indoor seating and private meeting space to meet the many occasions guests find for dining out, from family dinners to business meetings to celebrations. “It’s a dramatic change from being just an indoor restaurant with booths and tables where people come in and eat,” says Chief Marketing Officer Jim Rogers. “We’ve really expanded the occasions that they can use the Tony Roma’s brand, and that helps set us apart from competitors in the casual dining space.”

Tony Roma’s is THE place for RIBS. Our fans have been rolling up their sleeves and enjoying our mouthwatering, craveable ribs for nearly 45 years. Today our iconic brand is stronger than ever, with a new restaurant design and a popular new innovative menu. We’ve stayed loyal to the core DNA that has made us famous worldwide, and we’re attracting the next generation of loyal Tony Roma’s customers as we work toward the goal of 250 new locations over the next decade. We offer a lower initial investment than many upscale casual dining, full-service restaurants.

Our founder, Tony Roma, loved to entertain his friends and serve great food and drinks. He opened Tony Roma’s in the early 1970s, when sit-down restaurants were darker, more compact and less open. We know he would approve of the elegant and modern version of his neighborhood restaurant and bar that has become a household name to fans around the world

Interior changes are warm and welcoming

Our exciting restaurant interior changes introduce a subdued, natural color scheme of charcoal, ash gray and cream that creates a warm and welcoming environment for customers, whether they are enjoying a signature Romarita® and apps at a tabletop or a classic dinner of baby back ribs at a more intimate booth. Special accents such as enhanced lighting and stonework details add to the warmth of the modern Tony Roma’s.

The interior dining areas feature warm, wood tones along with some metallic elements. The floor is a wood-style vinyl that is easier on the feet than hardwoods or tile. The main dining area is now an open kitchen concept where customers can watch the activity of the chefs and servers, which adds an energetic vibe to the dining area and a transparency and authenticity that many customers, especially millennials, seek. Seating features leather accents in rich tones in the main dining area and bar.

Patio dining and bar appeals to after-work and weekend scene

Tony Roma’s new expanded outdoor patio dining and bar spaces encourage weekday social gatherings after work and weekend celebratory outings with friends. With beautiful stone outdoor fireplaces and flat-screen TVs positioned at the bar for multiple vantage points, the outdoor area features bar, table and lounge area seating to draw different types of customers. The seating sports red accents that add a pop of color and vibrant feel.

The covered patio is spacious enough to accommodate different dining style groups — smaller gatherings of friends who wish to enjoy the outdoor fireplace and sports fans who want to congregate around the bar and root for their favorite team. Our revamped menu also complements our expanded dining style options. It features more beers on tap, including offerings from local breweries, as well as small plates.

Our wave of domestic expansion is just getting started

If you are an experienced operator looking for a strong investment that stands out in the casual dining space, this new redesign signifies this opportune time to join Tony Roma’s. After years of building our footprint internationally, our new company leadership is poised to strategically grow Tony Roma’s in the United States and Canada. With more than 150 locations in more than 30 countries, Tony Roma’s offers significant room for growth in major metropolitan areas, shopping malls and secondary markets.

The U.S. and Canadian markets are wide open, and we are targeting 250 new locations over the next decade. “The opportunity is phenomenal, with plenty of untapped territories. We have a lot of opportunity in terms of geographical span in both Canada and the United States,” says Jonathan Benjamin, Vice President of Development for U.S. and Canada.

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