In the ever-changing restaurant landscape, one benchmark remains a constant: good ingredients are the key to a good dish. With such an understanding in place, ingredients often play a role in a restaurants’ ability to distinguish themselves from the crowd. Bocado, part of Atlanta’s popular Westside neighborhood, was established with a passion for simple organic ingredients. This restaurant’s down-to-earth approach is echoed in the exquisitely humble space design by ai3.

One of the most profound effects of ai3’s design is also one of the initial impressions one gets upon entering Bocado: cleanliness. The minimalist design features a primarily white color palette, punctuated by geometric shapes and linear bands of chartreuse, orange and gray tones, which work together to create an atmosphere that feels as fresh as the food itself. The linear bands repeat along Bocado’s exterior where wood panels create a contemporary frame for the white brick building and deck area.

Reclaimed materials play a large role in this natural environment. In the single dining room, a salvaged white marble bar top extends the length of the room. Behind the bar, painted biodegradable shipping tubes in assorted diameters and depths are arranged along a chartreuse wall to create a dramatic wine display.  Simple wood tables complete the effect, reinforcing Bocado’s inspired simplicity.