Interaction Design I


Fall 2024
SUL 205, MR 3:25 - 6:15

Professor Kyla Paolucci
paolucck@stjohns.edu
SJH B20-8
Office Hours MR 10am-1

Parts Unknown / Option 1


Linda’s Diner

Linda’s is a family-owned business, originally a small tortillería run by a Mexican family. Now, the second-generation owner, Linda, has taken over and wants to turn it into a modern diner that appeals to the evolving, gentrified neighborhood while staying true to its roots. With increasingly high rent prices, she renamed the business but wants to maintain the traditions of her family business.

Linda’s vision is to update the menu, combining the traditional dishes her family has always served in order to compete with the trendy Tex-Mex options that attract working professionals and young families in the area. However, Linda’s grandparents immigrated from Jalisco, and don’t typically make Tex-Mex dishes. The challenge is to balance the cool, modern vibe with respect for the community’s history and long-time customers. The website should reflect this blend of authenticity and modernity, offering an inviting space for both new visitors and loyal customers.

Client Goals

  • Create a hip, inviting look for a Mexican diner
  • Appeal to working professionals, young families, and long-time community members
  • Modernize without alienating the restaurant’s original customer base
  • A supplementary identity that references her family’s first business entity

Design Direction

  • Linda is a creative person and appreciates nostalagia. She wants to evoke the awe and spirit of her childhood birthday parties—which were often hosted at the restaurant. The old family business was called Tortilleria Jalisco and it’s interior design was humble and featured luchador posters from the 80s in the bathrooms.

Proposed Menu

Breakfast

  • Chilaquiles Verde/Red – Tortilla chips, salsa, fried eggs, queso fresco, avocado, and sour cream
  • Breakfast Tacos – Scrambled eggs, chorizo, cheese, and potatoes on soft corn tortillas
  • Tex-Mex Breakfast Bowl – Scrambled eggs, black beans, avocado, salsa, shredded cheese, and rice
  • Tortilla Omelette – Eggs, tortillas, jalapeños, onions, and tomatoes, served with salsa
  • Mexican Hotcakes – Fluffy pancakes topped with dulce de leche and fresh berries
  • Huevos Rancheros – Fried eggs on a tortilla, smothered in salsa and served with refried beans
  • Avocado Toast – With a Tex-Mex twist: toasted bolillo, smashed avocado, queso fresco, and pico de gallo

Appetizers

  • Street Corn (Elote) – Grilled corn on the cob with cotija cheese, lime, and chili powder
  • Loaded Nachos – Tortilla chips piled with melted cheese, black beans, jalapeños, sour cream, guacamole, and pico de gallo
  • Queso Fundido – Melted cheese dip served with tortillas and chips
  • Mini Quesadillas – Grilled tortillas stuffed with cheese and your choice of chicken, beef, or veggies
  • Tex-Mex Poppers – Jalapeños stuffed with cheese, wrapped in bacon, and fried until crispy

Salads

  • Southwest Chicken Salad – Grilled chicken, avocado, black beans, corn, tomatoes, and crispy tortilla strips with chipotle ranch dressing
  • Taco Salad – Ground beef or chicken, lettuce, cheese, tomatoes, and guacamole in a crispy tortilla bowl
  • Grilled Shrimp Avocado Salad – Grilled shrimp, mixed greens, avocado, roasted corn, and cilantro-lime dressing
  • Quinoa & Black Bean Salad – Quinoa, black beans, avocado, tomatoes, and a tangy citrus vinaigrette

Soups

  • Chicken Tortilla Soup – A hearty broth with shredded chicken, crispy tortilla strips, avocado, and cheese
  • Pozole – Traditional Mexican soup with hominy, pork, and a red chili broth, served with radishes, lettuce, and lime
  • Sopa de Fideo – Light tomato broth with thin vermicelli noodles and vegetables
  • Black Bean Soup – Rich and smoky black beans topped with sour cream, cheese, and cilantro

Sandwiches
(Make it deluxe with fries or coleslaw)

  • Tex-Mex Chicken Sandwich – Grilled chicken breast with avocado, pepper jack cheese, and chipotle mayo on a brioche bun
  • Carne Asada Torta – Thinly sliced steak, avocado, lettuce, tomato, and refried beans on a toasted bolillo roll
  • Chorizo Burger – Beef and chorizo patty, grilled onions, queso, and jalapeños on a sesame bun
  • Spicy Pulled Pork Sandwich – Shredded pork, pickled red onions, and chipotle BBQ sauce on a toasted bun
  • Grilled Veggie Torta – Grilled peppers, mushrooms, zucchini, avocado, and queso fresco on bolillo bread

Entrées

  • Carne Asada Plate – Grilled marinated steak, served with rice, refried beans, grilled onions, and tortillas
  • Chicken Enchiladas – Rolled tortillas filled with chicken and smothered in red or green sauce, topped with cheese, served with rice and beans
  • Fish Tacos – Grilled fish with cabbage slaw, pico de gallo, and chipotle mayo on soft corn tortillas
  • Stuffed Poblano Peppers – Poblano peppers filled with cheese and beef or beans, served with rice and salsa
  • Fajitas Tex-Mex Style – Your choice of chicken, steak, or shrimp served sizzling with onions, peppers, guacamole, sour cream, and tortillas
  • Tamales Platter – Two tamales with your choice of filling (chicken, pork, or cheese) served with rice and beans
  • Tex-Mex Plate – Combo of a chicken taco, cheese enchilada, and a small beef burrito, served with rice, beans, and salsa

Desserts

  • Churros with Chocolate Sauce – Crispy cinnamon-sugar churros with a rich chocolate dipping sauce
  • Flan – Creamy caramel flan with a hint of vanilla
  • Tres Leches Cake – A light sponge cake soaked in three kinds of milk, topped with whipped cream
  • Sopapillas – Fried pastries dusted with cinnamon sugar, drizzled with honey
  • Mexican Hot Chocolate Brownie – Rich chocolate brownie spiced with cinnamon and cayenne, served warm with vanilla ice cream

Drinks

Soft Drinks:
  • Mexican Coca-Cola
  • Jarritos (assorted flavors)
  • Fresh Lemonade
  • Horchata
  • Agua de Jamaica (hibiscus tea)
  • Iced Tea

Cocktails:
  • Margarita – Classic lime, or try it frozen with mango or strawberry
  • Paloma – Tequila with grapefruit soda and lime
  • Michelada – Beer mixed with lime juice, hot sauce, and tomato juice
  • Mexican Mule – Tequila, lime, and ginger beer

Wine:
  • Red: Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon
  • White: Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay

Beer:
  • On Draft - Local Craft Beers
  • Bottles - Corona, Modelo, Pacifico, Dos Equis)