Know your style.
Your preferred restaurant style will largely determine the type of equipment and supplies you need to purchase during your first few months. By purchasing equipment that is most conducive to your restaurant’s style, you can exceed target your niche markets more effectively and exceed customer expectations. Overall, restaurants may fall into one of three style categories: quick-service, midscale and upscale.
Quick-service restaurants
Quick-service restaurants, often referenced as fast-food, aim to deliver food quickly to each customer. Menus at quick-service restaurants are typically limited, and the food items can be purchased at relatively low prices. Drive-thru windows and take-out orders are common at these restaurants as well.
Equipment recommendation:
Because these restaurants turn out large volumes of food, it is important for the owner to purchase equipment that can keep up with the restaurant’s fast-paced culture. Equipment such as fryers, grills and sandwich presses can cook food quickly, and items such as warming units and working tables enable employees to minimize the time it takes to prepare and deliver food to the customers. Because of the fast-paced nature of these restaurants, a fairly basic dining area will usually suffice.
Midscale restaurants
Midscale restaurants offer limited and full-range menu options to their customers. Often, customers will order their food and have it delivered to them at a table in the restaurant. The menu items are typically a bit more expensive than those served at quick-service restaurants; however, most customers perceive them to be worth the price. Sometimes these restaurants will offer salad bars or buffets.
Equipment recommendation:
Since midscale restaurants provide a more extensive menu than quick-service facilities, these restaurants often require commercial kitchen equipment such as ovens, ranges and steam equipment that can cook higher quality food. Many of these equipment items require a bit more cooking time, yet because many of these customers wait at comfortable dining tables, they do not mind the additional waiting time.
Upscale restaurants
Upscale restaurants are top of the line when it comes to restaurant styles. These restaurants focus on providing high-quality food and a fine-dining ambiance to their customers. As a result, the meals at these restaurants are the most expensive.
Equipment recommendation:
At these fine-dining restaurants, owners should expect to invest in a full-range of commercial equipment. From ovens to broilers to display cases, owners of upscale restaurants should purchase equipment that can produce a variety of high-quality meals, and they should be prepared to display some of their cuisine for customers. Many times, the fine-dining experience is enhanced by strong attention to details. For instance, selecting fine china and cutlery and high-end dining arrangements improve a customer’s dining experience by adding to the dinner’s ambiance.
Lastly, as with all restaurants, storage and sanitation are integral elements to consider when purchasing equipment. Dishwashers and refrigeration systems are needed at any style of restaurant. And, the storage and organization of food preparation items and supplies are key to operating a restaurant more efficiently.
