It is rarely the case that a particular design aesthetic is able to feature such a degree of staying power, particularly when it comes to the seemingly ever-changing restaurant industry. Nick Alsis recently noted, however, that the pre-modern style that features reclaimed wood interiors, exposed rafters and light bulbs clearly reminiscent of gaslight has become increasingly prominent in recent years and seems to have achieved what appears to be a near-universal appeal.

In New York, even French New Wave restaurants have adopted this stylistic approach to exceptional results, which speaks to the fact that diners tend to prefer a setting that is at least somewhat familiar, if not in the cuisine then at least in terms of the overall aesthetic design. While some restaurants have been more daring in creating a pre-modern atmosphere, the overwhelming majority have simply used the style as a sort of base around which an entire concept is fully developed and individualized according to the perception the restaurant is trying to present.