Meet the Lettuce Interior Design Team

Welcome to Lettuce Life, where we celebrate the brilliant minds behind Lettuce Entertain You. We are excited to spotlight our exceptional Interior Design Team, led by visionary Avril Zayas, and her teammates Sarah Noncek, Meghan McLaren, and Jesse Neuhaus. Alongside our in-house Architecture Team, featuring John Cinelli and Vatsal Desai, and project managers Callie Revel and Izzy Shaindlin, they craft some of Lettuce’s most breathtaking restaurants nationwide.

In close collaboration with our restaurant partners, the Interior Design Team has been instrumental in conceptualizing, designing, and building some of our most iconic spaces including Beatrix and Beatrix Market, Summer House, Ema, Sushi-san, The Omakase Room, Aba, and The Oakvile Grill & Cellar. Their expertise extends to participating in the execution and openings of other stunning concepts like RPM Seafood, RPM Italian, RPM Steak, and Three Dots and Dash. Beyond new designs, the team also handles renovations and supports restaurants with their daily interior needs.

Despite being a small team, their success hinges on seamless collaboration with designers, architects, restaurant partners, managers, and divisional teams. They wear many hats throughout each project, deeply involved from inception to completion. From creating floor plans and presentation renderings to technical design drawings, selecting finishes, lighting, and furniture, managing construction, and overseeing the grand opening, they do it all with finesse.

Meet the Team

Avril Zayas, Director of Interior Design
Avril is the visionary who expertly navigates and channels creative ideas throughout Lettuce. Balancing her artistic flair with managerial prowess, gracefully tackling incredible and fun design challenges as they arise. Born and raised in Mexico City, Avril’s perspective is enriched by a vibrant mix of eclectic architecture and culture. Influenced by her mother, an interior designer, and her father, an engineer, she blends creativity with functionality.

Sarah Noncek, Senior Designer
Sarah excels in architectural drawings, renderings, sourcing, and project management. She loves seeing projects through from start to finish, finding great satisfaction in bringing ideas to life.

Meghan McLaren, Sourcing Specialist
With an uncanny ability to find the perfect items, Meghan sources everything from furniture to lighting with precision. She’s a mind reader who can track down the exact piece you envision, making her a key player in both new designs and updates.

Jesse Neuhaus, Artist
Jesse’s specialty lies in wall finishes and creating unique art pieces that add character and charm to our restaurants. His artistic touch brings an extra layer of sophistication to every space.

Callie Revel, Project Manager
Callie ensures everything runs smoothly, coordinating the many moving parts of each project and keeping the team on track. Callie and her partners are also responsible for the flawless execution of the nation’s best BBQ and Country Music festival, Windy City Smokeout.

Next time you visit one of our restaurants, take a moment to appreciate the thoughtfully curated design elements—the lighting, the greenery, and the overall ambiance—that elevate your dining experience to something special.