Scope of Project/Services

Besos was a two-part project for Cordtsen Design Architecture. The first phase was a renovation of the first-floor interior of the restaurant, an upscale eatery which started out as an 1880’s tavern (“The Elms”) and more recently had been a tea house.  The second phase was an expansion of the existing deck to include a bar, and the renovation of the existing patio to incorporate a wood fired pizza pavilion. 

Special Requests or Needs of the Client or Job

With the outdoor bar and pizza oven, the client wanted to create a unique dining experience for his customers. While relaxing at the bar and immersed in the surrounding streetscape of Main Street, patrons could face the wood fired pizza oven and watch as their chef created their pie.

Challenges and Solutions  

Whenever cooking or food service is part of a design project, strict health and food safety regulations must be followed and adhered to. We worked closely with the RI Department of Health to find creative solutions to successfully meet all the client’s desires for his restaurant. For example, areas surrounding the cooking area must be wipeable. For this project, a wipeable epoxy paint was used on the pavilion’s overhead rafters.

The 2000 lb. wood fired pizza oven required coordination with our structural engineer to provide special footings.

Special or Remarkable Features

The massive outdoor brick pizza oven is a beautiful, contemporary design with its expansive overhead rafters, coordinating seamlessly with the surrounding dining area and bar.

What We Enjoyed Most About this Project

“The most enjoyable part of the process was the challenge of doing something new and novel, an outdoor pizza pavilion. CDA loves any opportunity to be a trailblazer through a design process, taking the time to research and learn to ensure a successful project.” Jared Weaver

 Contractors and Other Subcontractors

Structural Engineer: Camera O’Neill Consulting Engineers