Why Restaurant Kitchens Are Getting Smaller with Chris McKenty of Edward Don & Company

Filmed live at CraveCon 2025, guest host Josh Halpern sits down with Chris McKenty of Edward Don & Company to explore the hidden systems that make restaurants actually work — from kitchen design to equipment strategy. Chris walks through the critical role that kitchen layout plays in the success of a restaurant. Often designed months before a location opens, the kitchen acts as the operational engine of the business. If workflow, equipment placement, and production lines aren’t built correctly from the start, service speed, food quality, and overall profitability can all suffer. One of the biggest trends Chris is seeing across the industry is the steady shrinking of restaurant kitchens. As lease costs rise and operators look to maximize dining room revenue, more square footage is being allocated to guest-facing areas — leaving designers to do more with less space in the back of house. That shift is driving a wave of innovation from equipment manufacturers, with new multi-functional equipment designed to replace multiple machines while occupying a smaller footprint. Josh and Chris also dive into the economics of restaurant equipment. From high-end “Ferrari” models to more budget-friendly alternatives, operators must constantly balance performance, durability, and cost — especially when building systems that need to scale across multiple locations. The conversation also touches on evolving restaurant formats, the rise of takeout and third-party delivery, and how those trends are influencing kitchen design decisions. As off-premise dining continues to grow, operators are rethinking everything from production flow to pickup stations in order to keep up with changing consumer behavior. Together, Josh and Chris pull back the curtain on the operational decisions happening behind the scenes — and why getting the kitchen right is one of the most important factors in building a successful restaurant. Episode Links Connect with Josh Halpern on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/josh-halpern-168b29 Connect with Chris on LinkedIn:   / chris-mckenty-65619324   Learn more about Edward Don & Company: https://www.don.com/ Follow Edward Don & Company on LinkedIn:   / edward-don-and-company   Subscribe on YouTube:    / edwarddonco   Follow on Instagram:   / edwarddonco   Follow on Facebook:   / 100063586851010   Connect with Gregg Follow Gregg on Instagram: www.instagram.com/greggmajewski Follow Gregg on TikTok:   / greggmajewski   Follow Gregg on X (Twitter): https://x.com/Gregg_Majewski Follow Gregg on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@greggmajewski Connect with Gregg on LinkedIn:   / greggmajewski   Connect with Craveworthy Follow Craveworthy Brands Instagram: www.instagram.com/craveworthybrand Visit Craveworthy Website: https://www.craveworthybrands.com/ Learn About Franchise Opportunities with Craveworthy: https://www.craveworthybrands.com/fra... Checkout the Craveworthy Portfolio of Brands: https://www.craveworthybrands.com/our... Discover Investment Opportunities with Craveworthy: https://invest.profitandsense.com/cra... Sign up to Receive Updates from Craveworthy: https://www.craveworthybrands.com/con... Connect with Room for Seconds Subscribe on YouTube:    / @craveworthybrands   Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4ioMIq0... Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... View Past Episodes on Craveworthy Website: https://media.craveworthybrands.com/b... Nominate a Guest Do you know someone who would be great on this show? Let us know by emailing us EMAIL or sending a DM on social media @craveworthybrands