As on the menu, the restaurant’s design blends traditional and modern elements to create a contemporary American aesthetic. Vincent Celano of New York-based Celano Design Studio led the effort. “Any time we design a restaurant, we start with trying to really understand the chef and the food, and work to create a story that brings all of the pieces together,” Celano says. “We had a lot of discussions on food, on the American food culture and how it has evolved. We wanted America Eats to be reflective of José’s playful approach to food. He has this way of deconstructing food and then reconstructing it in a way that’s artful, playful, and somewhat surreal but at the same time creates a conversation, so you feel like you’re learning through the process. It’s very engaging and exciting.
