Opening a new restaurant isn’t cheap. You’ll need tens of thousands of dollars worth of equipment in both the front and the back of the house. From refrigerators and walk-in freezers to ranges, ovens, small appliances, bar equipment, uniforms and more, here’s what you need to start a new restaurant.
1) Food Storage Appliances
Industrial-grade refrigerators and freezers are a must for any new restaurant, and chances are you’re going to need more of them than you think. In addition to freezers and refrigerators for the kitchen, you’ll also need refrigeration for the service kitchen and for the bar area. There are all kinds of freezers and coolers available, in a range of sizes, from small reach-ins to huge walk-ins. But no matter how big or small your establishment, you’ll need to preserve your food.
2) Food Prep Appliances
There are so many different kinds of appliances you might need in the kitchen or service kitchen, but most of them fall into one of three categories: slicers, mixers, or food processors. You’ll need a slicer, a mixer, a meat grinder, a blender, a cheese melter, a fryer, a broiler, a non-pressure steamer, a food processor, baker’s tables and bins, a portion scale, and more. Outfitting your production kitchen with equipment will cost $30,000 to $65,000.
3) Service Kitchen Equipment
The service kitchen is where wait staff will put the finishing touches on dishes right before they go out to the customer. You’ll need prep and steam tables, a toaster, a microwave, a sandwich table, a roll warmer, and heat lamps.
4) Small Production Items
You can expect to spend anywhere from $1,200 to $2,700 on small production items like pans, pots, potholders, tongs, spoons, can openers, ladles, spatulas, and other equipment.
5) Tables, Chairs, and Barstools
You’ll need tables, chairs, and barstools for the front of house, as well as for any break room facilities and the waiting area. A restaurant furniture supply store is the best place to get sturdy restaurant furniture at bulk prices.
6) Bar Equipment
If your restaurant will have a bar, you’re going to need to buy the bar itself, the cash register, several hundred glasses of all different kinds, and all of the accoutrements needed to mix and garnish cocktails. You’ll need additional refrigerators where bartenders can store cocktail ingredients, beers, and bottled drinks. Your bar will also need its own dishwasher.
7) Uniforms
Uniforms give your staff a professional, polished appearance, and providing your staff with uniforms gives them one less thing to worry about and spend their hard-earned tips on. The same restaurant supply outlet that provided your equipment and furniture can also offer a selection of uniforms for every member of staff, from the hostess to the chef.
8) Miscellaneous Tableware
While it’s trendy these days for hip restaurants to serve their meals on shovels or bricks, most patrons want to eat off good, old-fashioned plates and bowls. You’re going to need a lot of tableware – bowls, plates, mugs, glasses, cutlery, and everything else. Buy extra – it breaks easily.
9) A Three-Stage Dishwashing Station
Most local food safety ordinances will require your restaurant kitchen to use three sinks and an industrial-grade dishwasher to clean and sanitize your dishes. A triple sink allows your dishwashing staff to use the three-stage method, which is what food safety regulations usually require. At least one industrial-grade dishwasher may be necessary, whether it’s an under-counter dishwasher to help your bartender maintain a supply of clean glasses, or a conveyor dishwasher that can handle the whole lunch rush at once.
10) A Kitchen Display System
These days, conveying order information from the front to the back of house has gotten a lot more sophisticated than just yelling out the name of the menu item really loudly. Tablets and mobile devices allow servers to instantly send orders to the kitchen, where they’ll appear on a digital display. A modern kitchen display system can help your restaurant turn out order much more quickly and efficiently.
Starting a new restaurant is a lot of work, but the payoff is massive. As a small business owner, you can be your own boss and reap the rewards of your labor directly. But first, you need the right supplies, so you can offer customers a dining experience they’ll return for again and again.