Pat & Oscar's debuts new design at original storePat & Oscar's debuts new design at original store

Lisa Jennings

After rolling out a menu overhaul last year, the 19-unit Pat & Oscar’s Restaurant chain on Monday unveiled a new prototype design at its original unit in Carmel Mountain Ranch, Calif.

The new look is the first phase of a systemwide remodel plan that initially will include three more company units in Southern California, as well as new units going forward, said John Kaufman, Pat & Oscar’s president and chief executive.After rolling out a menu overhaul last year, the 19-unit Pat & Oscar’s Restaurant chain on Monday unveiled a new prototype design at its original unit in Carmel Mountain Ranch, Calif.

After rolling out a menu overhaul last year, the 19-unit Pat & Oscar’s Restaurant chain on Monday unveiled a new prototype design at its original unit in Carmel Mountain Ranch, Calif.

After rolling out a menu overhaul last year, the 19-unit Pat & Oscar’s Restaurant chain on Monday unveiled a new prototype design at its original unit in Carmel Mountain Ranch, Calif.

Though only open a week with the new design, the Carmel Mountain Ranch location has already seen sales jump 6 percent, Kaufman said Monday.After rolling out a menu overhaul last year, the 19-unit Pat & Oscar’s Restaurant chain on Monday unveiled a new prototype design at its original unit in Carmel Mountain Ranch, Calif.

After rolling out a menu overhaul last year, the 19-unit Pat & Oscar’s Restaurant chain on Monday unveiled a new prototype design at its original unit in Carmel Mountain Ranch, Calif.

After rolling out a menu overhaul last year, the 19-unit Pat & Oscar’s Restaurant chain on Monday unveiled a new prototype design at its original unit in Carmel Mountain Ranch, Calif.

“We’ll see how it plays out, but we’re looking for a minimum of a 15 percent lift in sales,” he said.After rolling out a menu overhaul last year, the 19-unit Pat & Oscar’s Restaurant chain on Monday unveiled a new prototype design at its original unit in Carmel Mountain Ranch, Calif.

After rolling out a menu overhaul last year, the 19-unit Pat & Oscar’s Restaurant chain on Monday unveiled a new prototype design at its original unit in Carmel Mountain Ranch, Calif.

After rolling out a menu overhaul last year, the 19-unit Pat & Oscar’s Restaurant chain on Monday unveiled a new prototype design at its original unit in Carmel Mountain Ranch, Calif.

The remodeled restaurant has a new color scheme that includes more earth tones in various greens, creams, warm browns and taupes. Interior seats are covered in brown leather and tabletops feature warmer woods.After rolling out a menu overhaul last year, the 19-unit Pat & Oscar’s Restaurant chain on Monday unveiled a new prototype design at its original unit in Carmel Mountain Ranch, Calif.

After rolling out a menu overhaul last year, the 19-unit Pat & Oscar’s Restaurant chain on Monday unveiled a new prototype design at its original unit in Carmel Mountain Ranch, Calif.

After rolling out a menu overhaul last year, the 19-unit Pat & Oscar’s Restaurant chain on Monday unveiled a new prototype design at its original unit in Carmel Mountain Ranch, Calif.

Click here to see photos of the new design.After rolling out a menu overhaul last year, the 19-unit Pat & Oscar’s Restaurant chain on Monday unveiled a new prototype design at its original unit in Carmel Mountain Ranch, Calif.

After rolling out a menu overhaul last year, the 19-unit Pat & Oscar’s Restaurant chain on Monday unveiled a new prototype design at its original unit in Carmel Mountain Ranch, Calif.

After rolling out a menu overhaul last year, the 19-unit Pat & Oscar’s Restaurant chain on Monday unveiled a new prototype design at its original unit in Carmel Mountain Ranch, Calif.

The walls are decorated with black-and-white historical scenes of surrounding San Diego County, and a mural highlights keywords such as “community,” “delicious” and “catering.” After rolling out a menu overhaul last year, the 19-unit Pat & Oscar’s Restaurant chain on Monday unveiled a new prototype design at its original unit in Carmel Mountain Ranch, Calif.

After rolling out a menu overhaul last year, the 19-unit Pat & Oscar’s Restaurant chain on Monday unveiled a new prototype design at its original unit in Carmel Mountain Ranch, Calif.

After rolling out a menu overhaul last year, the 19-unit Pat & Oscar’s Restaurant chain on Monday unveiled a new prototype design at its original unit in Carmel Mountain Ranch, Calif.

The prototype has four beers on tap -- a first for Pat & Oscar’s, which previously only offered bottled beer -- and more prominent displays of wine offerings, Kaufman said.After rolling out a menu overhaul last year, the 19-unit Pat & Oscar’s Restaurant chain on Monday unveiled a new prototype design at its original unit in Carmel Mountain Ranch, Calif.

After rolling out a menu overhaul last year, the 19-unit Pat & Oscar’s Restaurant chain on Monday unveiled a new prototype design at its original unit in Carmel Mountain Ranch, Calif.

After rolling out a menu overhaul last year, the 19-unit Pat & Oscar’s Restaurant chain on Monday unveiled a new prototype design at its original unit in Carmel Mountain Ranch, Calif.

Outdoor patio furniture has been replaced with stone-surface tables and chairs with a wood-and-steel finish, in what officials described as a more upscale look. Flooring, lighting, counters and wall covering have also been spruced up.After rolling out a menu overhaul last year, the 19-unit Pat & Oscar’s Restaurant chain on Monday unveiled a new prototype design at its original unit in Carmel Mountain Ranch, Calif.

After rolling out a menu overhaul last year, the 19-unit Pat & Oscar’s Restaurant chain on Monday unveiled a new prototype design at its original unit in Carmel Mountain Ranch, Calif.

After rolling out a menu overhaul last year, the 19-unit Pat & Oscar’s Restaurant chain on Monday unveiled a new prototype design at its original unit in Carmel Mountain Ranch, Calif.

Kaufman said the Carmel Mountain Ranch remodel required more of a capital investment because a take-out area was incorporated into the main dining room to add more table space, which involved heavier construction. For most units, the remodel will be more cosmetic with “minimal” costs ranging between $75,000 and $125,000, he said.After rolling out a menu overhaul last year, the 19-unit Pat & Oscar’s Restaurant chain on Monday unveiled a new prototype design at its original unit in Carmel Mountain Ranch, Calif.

After rolling out a menu overhaul last year, the 19-unit Pat & Oscar’s Restaurant chain on Monday unveiled a new prototype design at its original unit in Carmel Mountain Ranch, Calif.

After rolling out a menu overhaul last year, the 19-unit Pat & Oscar’s Restaurant chain on Monday unveiled a new prototype design at its original unit in Carmel Mountain Ranch, Calif.

The 18-year-old Mount Carmel unit formerly was one of 12 corporate-owned locations, but the company took on an unnamed investor partner, technically as a franchisee, who now owns the restaurant. The company, however, continues to operate it. After rolling out a menu overhaul last year, the 19-unit Pat & Oscar’s Restaurant chain on Monday unveiled a new prototype design at its original unit in Carmel Mountain Ranch, Calif.

After rolling out a menu overhaul last year, the 19-unit Pat & Oscar’s Restaurant chain on Monday unveiled a new prototype design at its original unit in Carmel Mountain Ranch, Calif.

After rolling out a menu overhaul last year, the 19-unit Pat & Oscar’s Restaurant chain on Monday unveiled a new prototype design at its original unit in Carmel Mountain Ranch, Calif.

Kaufman said similar “hybrid” franchise relationships would be sought for other company-owned locations. In addition, the chain will start growing again this year, with two new units planned — one corporate and one franchise location — probably in the Orange County, Calif. area.After rolling out a menu overhaul last year, the 19-unit Pat & Oscar’s Restaurant chain on Monday unveiled a new prototype design at its original unit in Carmel Mountain Ranch, Calif.

After rolling out a menu overhaul last year, the 19-unit Pat & Oscar’s Restaurant chain on Monday unveiled a new prototype design at its original unit in Carmel Mountain Ranch, Calif.

After rolling out a menu overhaul last year, the 19-unit Pat & Oscar’s Restaurant chain on Monday unveiled a new prototype design at its original unit in Carmel Mountain Ranch, Calif.

Kaufman and others on the management team purchased the Carlsbad, Calif.-based chain from former owner Pacific Equity Partners in January 2009.After rolling out a menu overhaul last year, the 19-unit Pat & Oscar’s Restaurant chain on Monday unveiled a new prototype design at its original unit in Carmel Mountain Ranch, Calif.

After rolling out a menu overhaul last year, the 19-unit Pat & Oscar’s Restaurant chain on Monday unveiled a new prototype design at its original unit in Carmel Mountain Ranch, Calif.

After rolling out a menu overhaul last year, the 19-unit Pat & Oscar’s Restaurant chain on Monday unveiled a new prototype design at its original unit in Carmel Mountain Ranch, Calif.

Founded in 1991, Pat & Oscar’s is known for its appeal to families and groups with dishes such as ribs, pizza, salads and the brand’s signature bread sticks. In August, the company announced a menu overhaul that included the expansion of shared-dish options for six or more people, as well as more individual dishes, smaller-portioned options and side dishes. (EARLIER: Pat & Oscar’s new owners overhaul menu)After rolling out a menu overhaul last year, the 19-unit Pat & Oscar’s Restaurant chain on Monday unveiled a new prototype design at its original unit in Carmel Mountain Ranch, Calif.

After rolling out a menu overhaul last year, the 19-unit Pat & Oscar’s Restaurant chain on Monday unveiled a new prototype design at its original unit in Carmel Mountain Ranch, Calif.

After rolling out a menu overhaul last year, the 19-unit Pat & Oscar’s Restaurant chain on Monday unveiled a new prototype design at its original unit in Carmel Mountain Ranch, Calif.

Now with the menu rollout complete, Kaufman said the increased family options have been a hit with value-seeking diners. The option of dishes for six, for example, made up 2 percent to 3 percent of sales in test units last year, but now Kaufman said it accounts for about 11 percent of sales.After rolling out a menu overhaul last year, the 19-unit Pat & Oscar’s Restaurant chain on Monday unveiled a new prototype design at its original unit in Carmel Mountain Ranch, Calif.

After rolling out a menu overhaul last year, the 19-unit Pat & Oscar’s Restaurant chain on Monday unveiled a new prototype design at its original unit in Carmel Mountain Ranch, Calif.

After rolling out a menu overhaul last year, the 19-unit Pat & Oscar’s Restaurant chain on Monday unveiled a new prototype design at its original unit in Carmel Mountain Ranch, Calif.

Guests are also choosing more add-on items, such as a bottomless salad for $3.99 and the Big O cookie dessert. Add-ons have helped increase the average check by about 50 cents per person to $9, he said.After rolling out a menu overhaul last year, the 19-unit Pat & Oscar’s Restaurant chain on Monday unveiled a new prototype design at its original unit in Carmel Mountain Ranch, Calif.

After rolling out a menu overhaul last year, the 19-unit Pat & Oscar’s Restaurant chain on Monday unveiled a new prototype design at its original unit in Carmel Mountain Ranch, Calif.

After rolling out a menu overhaul last year, the 19-unit Pat & Oscar’s Restaurant chain on Monday unveiled a new prototype design at its original unit in Carmel Mountain Ranch, Calif.

“We can feed a family of six for $6 per person, without beverages,” said Kaufman. “And we’re getting more margin off that dollar as well.”After rolling out a menu overhaul last year, the 19-unit Pat & Oscar’s Restaurant chain on Monday unveiled a new prototype design at its original unit in Carmel Mountain Ranch, Calif.

After rolling out a menu overhaul last year, the 19-unit Pat & Oscar’s Restaurant chain on Monday unveiled a new prototype design at its original unit in Carmel Mountain Ranch, Calif.

After rolling out a menu overhaul last year, the 19-unit Pat & Oscar’s Restaurant chain on Monday unveiled a new prototype design at its original unit in Carmel Mountain Ranch, Calif.

Like most chains, Pat & Oscar’s took a hit during the recession, Kaufman said, but consumer traffic appears to be coming back.After rolling out a menu overhaul last year, the 19-unit Pat & Oscar’s Restaurant chain on Monday unveiled a new prototype design at its original unit in Carmel Mountain Ranch, Calif.

After rolling out a menu overhaul last year, the 19-unit Pat & Oscar’s Restaurant chain on Monday unveiled a new prototype design at its original unit in Carmel Mountain Ranch, Calif.

After rolling out a menu overhaul last year, the 19-unit Pat & Oscar’s Restaurant chain on Monday unveiled a new prototype design at its original unit in Carmel Mountain Ranch, Calif.

For the fiscal year that ended in April, he said, same-store sales were down 8 percent, compared with a 15-percent decline the previous year. Over the past five periods, however, same-store sales were down only 3 percent, he noted.After rolling out a menu overhaul last year, the 19-unit Pat & Oscar’s Restaurant chain on Monday unveiled a new prototype design at its original unit in Carmel Mountain Ranch, Calif.

After rolling out a menu overhaul last year, the 19-unit Pat & Oscar’s Restaurant chain on Monday unveiled a new prototype design at its original unit in Carmel Mountain Ranch, Calif.

After rolling out a menu overhaul last year, the 19-unit Pat & Oscar’s Restaurant chain on Monday unveiled a new prototype design at its original unit in Carmel Mountain Ranch, Calif.

“We’ve come a long way in a year and a half and it’s been a tough year, but sales are climbing,” he said. “The opportunity now is to grow.”After rolling out a menu overhaul last year, the 19-unit Pat & Oscar’s Restaurant chain on Monday unveiled a new prototype design at its original unit in Carmel Mountain Ranch, Calif.

After rolling out a menu overhaul last year, the 19-unit Pat & Oscar’s Restaurant chain on Monday unveiled a new prototype design at its original unit in Carmel Mountain Ranch, Calif.

After rolling out a menu overhaul last year, the 19-unit Pat & Oscar’s Restaurant chain on Monday unveiled a new prototype design at its original unit in Carmel Mountain Ranch, Calif.

Contact Lisa Jennings at [email protected].After rolling out a menu overhaul last year, the 19-unit Pat & Oscar’s Restaurant chain on Monday unveiled a new prototype design at its original unit in Carmel Mountain Ranch, Calif.

After rolling out a menu overhaul last year, the 19-unit Pat & Oscar’s Restaurant chain on Monday unveiled a new prototype design at its original unit in Carmel Mountain Ranch, Calif.

After rolling out a menu overhaul last year, the 19-unit Pat & Oscar’s Restaurant chain on Monday unveiled a new prototype design at its original unit in Carmel Mountain Ranch, Calif.