Commercial Carts & Foodservice Carts

Foodservice Carts: What You Should Know

Foodservice carts are made for various and specific uses. All restaurant carts have different capacities and are often rated by the amount of product they can hold. Utility carts are constructed of materials such as aluminum, plastic, and stainless steel. Some can even heat or cool foods. Others without this functionality are often able to insulate items, maintaining desired temperatures.

Whether housing food or carrying smaller pieces of equipment, commercial carts are an excellent way to maintain freshness and enhance security during product transport. Determine if your hallways and doors are wide enough to accommodate a foodservice cart before investing in one. There are dozens of restaurant cart configurations to choose from, so research them before purchasing. Do you need to transport food to guests? Will you be moving ready-made meals or use the cart itself to present patrons with a mobile cooking show? These are just a few questions to keep in mind when searching for your utility cart.

Common Questions About Commercial Carts

What are the different kinds of commercial carts?

There are three main subcategories of carts: foodservice carts, general use carts, and hospitality carts. Foodservice carts are constructed to streamline customer meal delivery and, in some cases, increase impulse sales through add-on items such as dessert and beverage tableside service. General use carts can transport food, though they aren't optimal for that purpose. These carts are designed for moving technology or basic small equipment. Some general use carts – meant for laptop and tablet transportation – come with power strips that can charge stored devices, and the units with locks ensure items are secure. Hospitality carts are implemented to maintain hygiene in your facility. This subcategory includes bus carts, trash carts, janitor carts, and more.

Which foodservice cart do you need?

When determining your restaurant cart investment, consider your establishment's meal delivery potential. Some equipment is designed to house and transport main courses, while others are made for mobile cooking presentations, and more still are available for selling on the go or to provide beverages and desserts for guests. Because they're made to insulate food using simple construction, meal delivery carts are great for foodservice in the healthcare industry. They can deliver just a few to hundreds of meals at a time. Conversely, room service carts are best for the hospitality industry. While they have a similar design to meal delivery carts, they can be folded down for transportation, and once they are in the guest's room, they can unfold and enable patrons to eat off them. This eliminates the need for a permanent dining table in hotel rooms.

Is electric or gas better for cooking carts?

A staple of the foodservice cart category, cooking carts are great for enhancing the performance aspects of the kitchen experience for guests' viewing pleasure. They're available in many configurations that implement different types and numbers of burners, and the other configuration options include caster material, LED controls, down-draft systems, and more.

A big consideration with cooking carts is whether to invest in one designed with a gas or electric system. Electric models create more space beneath the cart for extra storage, though they need a cord and outlet to function. This greatly diminishes their mobility. Alternatively, gas-powered equipment must have propane tanks beneath the cooktop, minimizing storage potential. However, their gas flame enables flambé cooking, and they don't require a cord and outlet to operate.