How to Design a Steamboat Restaurant

Nostalgic restaurants, such as a steamboat restaurant that's reminiscent of the turn of the 20th century, are popular with dining crowds. The hardest part of fulfilling your restaurant design is likely locating a steamboat to restore or purchasing a new vessel and outfitting it to resemble a steamboat from yesteryear.

Instructions

1

Check with the local board of health for regulations regarding restaurants and compliance requirements, and ensure your restaurant meets all standards.

2

Revamp or built your boat to serve as a restaurant. You'll want a commercial kitchen that meets local health guidelines and can handle a crowd. Include seating areas and perhaps a stage for entertainment.

3

Decide if the boat will remain docked or travel up and down the river. For example, the Belle of Louisville is an entertainment and excursion boat that travels up and down the Ohio River in the Louisville area.

4

Obtain a dock with enough parking space to accommodate guests and secure any necessary permits.

5

Decorate the steamboat's interior and exterior with a nautical theme. You have several options--choose a regal, classical look found on older steamboats, such as deep burgundy and gold tablecloths and chairs, or choose a more modern, marine theme with anchors, nets and a seafood theme.

6

Add special touches, such as old pictures of steamboats, ship wheels or framed photographs of people from the 1900s. Stick with your chosen theme, so you have matching accessories and decor.