James Beard award-winning chef, Jose Garces has restaurants in seven cities in the U.S. With his new restaurant, Buena Onda, Garces wants guests to feel as though they’ve traveled to the relaxing and vibrant beach towns of Mexico. Buena Onda is located in the Granary Building in Philadelphia. Chef Garces was inspired by the relaxing beach ambience of Acapulco and was drawn to a beach-themed, playful yet calming palette. CORE reinterpreted Acapulco chairs as light fixtures, painted concrete blocks for table bases, and used cool blues and whites and lattice patterns throughout to create the desired look and feel. Due to the irregular shape of the space, the cooking is conducted in two separate areas with seating for 42 in the dining room.
Awards:
Silver Award, Restaurant / Fast Food - Association of Retail Environments (ARE)
restaurant development + design (rd+d) award, Winner, Best New Concept Launch and Best Limited-Service Restaurant Design
Status: Built
Location: Philadelphia, PA, US
Firm Role: Design Architect
Additional Credits: Client: Garces Group
Project Team: Allison Cooke, Hilary Miners
General Contractor: CVMNext Construction
Photography: © Michael Moran
