How to Find the Right Equipment for Your Restaurant

Determining what restaurant equipment is necessary for your establishment can be a daunting and pricey task when opening a foodservice operation. Operators should do everything they can to ensure they've thoroughly thought the process through. Below, you'll find a few of the beginning categories you'll need to consider; at the bottom is a checklist of restaurant equipment you may need, though it's not exhaustive. We recommend you take note of the items you need from the following lists and add any other equipment you'll need.

Front-of-house Restaurant Equipment

Dining Room Furniture

Necessary furniture for your restaurant can be determined by both restaurant type and concept; items to consider include bars, stools, booths, chairs, highchairs, host/hostess stands, and tables. Bars are perfect for any business looking to create a relaxed, easygoing atmosphere and stools are best used for bar seating needs. Consider if you want more booths or tables for your guests. Booths provide a comfortable seating arrangement for as many as six people. Tables are versatile and can be arranged to meet nearly any seating needs. Chairs and highchairs are necessary for any sit-down foodservice business, while host/hostess stands are ideal for keeping your restaurant's seating running smoothly.

Tabletop Items

After choosing furniture for your business, you should determine which tabletop items you’ll need to incorporate, but there are a few tabletop necessities regardless of the type of business you own. Dinnerware, drinkware, flatware, and shakers are all essential table items.

Back-of-house Kitchen Equipment

Coolers and Freezers

The size of your business will determine the size of the storage equipment you will need. Smaller businesses need more compact refrigerators and freezers because of their reduced product storage needs, while larger businesses should obviously purchase larger coolers capable of housing all the products they need. In the event your business expands, you'll likely want to purchase a refrigerator or freezer with a larger capacity to support future growth.

Ice Machines

Most businesses need ice machines, but what kind of ice machine will you need? For operations with limited space countertop ice makers are a good choice, but if you need large amounts of ice to accommodate frequent drinks, it's best to opt for an ice machine with a bin or a smaller undercounter ice maker.

Cooking and Food Prep Equipment

Your required cooking equipment will vary widely based on what you're serving. Use this checklist to help you determine the cooking and prep equipment you'll need:

1. Begin by plotting out your menu. It can be as simple as burgers and fries or have complex haute cuisine items.
2. From there, determine what major equipment you'll need—ranges, broilers, convection ovens, etc.—to cook the food offered on that menu and serve your guests.
3. Calculate your budget and evaluate your available kitchen space.
4. Decide which components you can efficiently function without, and adjust your menu accordingly until your kitchen plan matches both your budget and your available space.
5. Mentally go through the entire process of preparing and serving. What will you need to prepare the ingredients? What will the food be cooked on? How will you keep it warm?

Restaurant Cleaning Equipment

After the day is over, you'll need the proper cleaning equipment, including mops, trash cans, rags, and spray bottles. You'll also want to purchase a commercial dishwasher for large volumes of dishes.

Checklist for Restaurant Equipment

Use the following checklist to ensure you have commonly needed items for your foodservice operation.